Call for Papers

Focus and Topics

The UNICollaboration organisation is organising an international research conference on the theme of “Virtual Exchange in a Changing World: Innovation and Inclusion”. Our 2026 theme acknowledges the transformative power of digital connectivity and collaborative learning in times of global complexity. As education continues to evolve amidst socio-political shifts, environmental challenges, and technological acceleration, virtual exchange stands as a uniquely positioned practice to foster intercultural dialogue, international collaboration, and equitable access to learning opportunities. This conference brings together researchers, educators, teacher trainers, policy makers, and students across disciplines to explore the dynamic potential of VE to shape more inclusive and innovative learning environments.

The UNICollaboration organisation is organising an international research conference on the theme of “Virtual Exchange in a Changing World: Innovation and Inclusion”. Our 2026 theme acknowledges the transformative power of digital connectivity and collaborative learning in times of global complexity. As education continues to evolve amidst socio-political shifts, environmental challenges, and technological acceleration, virtual exchange stands as a uniquely positioned practice to foster intercultural dialogue, international collaboration, and equitable access to learning opportunities. This conference brings together researchers, educators, teacher trainers, policy makers, and students across disciplines to explore the dynamic potential of VE to shape more inclusive and innovative learning environments.

The conference will serve as a venue for all models of virtual exchange, including COIL and telecollaboration, exploring a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, the following:
  • Innovative models and best practices in designing VE projects
  • Intercultural competence development through VE
  • Curriculum integration and accreditation of VE within degree programs
  • Assessment of learning outcomes in VE projects
  • Institutional strategies for scaling and sustaining VE initiatives
  • Equity, accessibility, and inclusion in VE initiatives
  • The role of VE in advancing internationalization at home (IaH)
  • Case studies of successful VE partnerships in diverse academic fields
  • Student voices and experiences in VE programs
  • Ιntegrating AI, VR/AR, and other emerging technologies in VE
  • Innovative research methodologies for studying VE impact
  • The role of VE in promoting global citizenship and social responsibility
  • The intersection of VE and Blended Mobility programs (BIPs, etc.)
  • VE as a response to global crises, conflict, or isolation 
  • Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary VE collaborations in formal and informal educational settings, including Higher Education.

Submissions

The conference will welcome abstracts for:
  • Research Papers: empirical or theoretical studies on Virtual Exchange.
  • VE Practical Reports: reflective accounts of VE implementations, including challenges and lessons learned.
  • Project Reports: outcomes and experiences from funded or institutional VE projects.
  • Workshops: interactive sessions focused on skill building, tools, pedagogical strategies.
  • Panel Discussions: thematic panels led by a chair bringing together diverse perspectives on key VE issues. Panel organizer(s) should outline the panel’s central theme and include the names of all participants, along with the titles and abstracts of their individual presentations. Panels should consist of 4 to 8 speakers.
  • Posters: visual presentations of ongoing or completed VE initiatives.
UNICollaboration 2026 Conference will be held in person only. We welcome submissions for the following presentation formats:
  • Presentations (20 minutes + 10 minutes Q&A)
  • Workshops (90 minutes) 
  • Panel Discussions (60 minutes)
  • Poster Sessions

Important dates:

Important dates:

Call for Papers: 1 July 2025

Deadline for Submissions: 15 November 2025

Notification of Acceptance: 30 November 2025

Registration Opens: 1 December 2025  

Registration Closes: 15 May 2026 

Opportunities for publication:

UNICollaboration encourages presenters to publish their contributions in the Journal of Virtual Exchange (JVE). The JVE is an open-access, peer-reviewed international journal aimed at virtual exchange practitioners and researchers and published by UNICollaboration. All submissions will undergo a double-blind peer review process. Articles selected for publication must meet the established criteria and guidelines of the journal, which can be found at the JVE’s website.

The scientific program of the conference is currently under development and will be announced soon.
 

⦁    Agricultural Meteorology and Climatology
⦁    Air Quality (indoor and outdoor)
⦁    Applications of Meteorology in the Energy Sector
⦁    Applied Climatology
⦁    Applied Meteorology
⦁    Atmospheric Boundary Layer
⦁    Atmospheric Electricity, Ions and Lightning
⦁    Atmospheric Chemistry
⦁    Atmospheric Physics
⦁    Atmospheric Radiation
⦁    Biometeorology, Bioclimatology
⦁    Climate Change
⦁    Climate Dynamics
⦁    Climatology for Natural Resources Management
⦁    Cloud Physics
⦁    Dynamic Meteorology

⦁    Extreme Weather Events
⦁    Hydrometeorology and Hydrology
⦁    Mesoscale Meteorology
⦁    Meteorology
⦁    Micrometeorology
⦁    Observational Techniques from the Ground and Space
⦁    Paleoclimatology
⦁    Radar Meteorology
⦁    Remote Sensing
⦁    Satellite Meteorology and Climatology
⦁    Stratospheric Ozone
⦁    Synoptic Meteorology
⦁    Urban Climate
⦁    UV Radiation
⦁    Weather Analysis and Forecasting
⦁    Weather Modification