At the ‘Second International Conference on Telecollaboration in Higher Education' my colleagues and I announced plans to launch an academic organisation for telecollaboration and virtual exchange. This is an outline of our ideas.

1. UNICOLLABORATION:
THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION OF
TELECOLLABORATION AND VIRTUAL EXCHANGE
The 2nd International Conference
on Telelecollaboration in Higher
Education:
Trinity College, Dublin 2016

2. What has brought us to here?
2011: INTENT: Integrating Telecollaborative Networks into
Higher Education
2013: The Launch of the UNICollaboration
platform. Currently: 800 members.

3. What has brought us to here? (2)
2014: The first International Conference on Telecollaboration
in University Foreign Language Education (1 Book, 2 Journals,
1 Online Journal)
2016: The Second International Conference on
Telecollaboration in (Foreign Language) Higher
Education

4. Yes, there are other Virtual Exchange Organisations. But
they all have specific audiences or objectives:
Teletandem – Focus on e-tandem
learning
Soliya – Focus on virtual exchange
between the west and Arab/Muslim
countries
Sharing Perspectives – A specific model
of exchange
COIL – Connecting SUNY universities to
rest of the globe

5. So we asked you about your interest in:
research and practice in telecollaboration and
virtual exchange…
– across all disciplines and subject areas
– in higher education
– across the globe

6. What is your position on the formation of a cross-disciplinary academic
organisation to promote and support telecollaborative research and
practice?
I think this is a relevant and useful initiative. 97 99%
I think this is not a necessary or relevant idea at the
moment.
1 1%
I have no opinion about this subject. 0 0%
Would you be interested in becoming a full member of such an
organisation?
Yes, I would be interested in joining such an
organisation.
89 90.8%
No, I would not be interested in joining such an
organisation.
9 9.2%

7. • Please tell us what you would particularly like such an organisation to do and to
provide for its members?
• Summary of responses:
• Many practitioners highlight the need for help in finding partners
• Our reaction: We need to improve the UNICOLLABORATION.EU platform
• Many mentioned an interest in getting help in preparing research proposals
• Our reaction: Possibly a theme for our first regional / online workshop.
• Numerous mentions of support for regional and online training workshops too.
• Some people mentioned the importance of representing TC at institutional level
and promoting the activity at higher level.
• One respondent warned about setting up ‘yet another’ organisation and that we
should stay within the established networks.
• Our reaction:….
• Some identified the need to have a database or repository of research from across
the globe.

8. • Aims of the organization (1)
• To promote the development and integration of research and practice in
telecollaboration and virtual across all disciplines and subject areas in
higher education around the globe by:
– Holding a bi-annual conference on research and practice
– Providing a regular publication on research across academic disciplines
– Organising annual regional training workshops and online training
events in practice and research
– Providing training and support for doctoral and post-doctoral research
in our activity through professional development events and mobility
opportunities
– Developing and promoting the Organisation’s online platform
(www.unicollaboration.eu) as a central hub for telecollaboration and
virtual exchange practice.

9. • Aims of the organization (2)
• To actively engage in awareness raising of Telecollaboration and Virtual
Exchange at institutional and policy making level by:
– Supporting members interested in preparing project proposals and
starting telecollaborative initiatives
– Collaborating with other academic organisations related to mobility,
education etc.
– Coordinating with different networks across the globe common
policies and approaches to developing telecollaboration
– Taking up contact with policy making bodies at national and
international level.

10. Our Board and its Functions (2016-2018)
Position April 2016- April 2018 Function
President Robert O’Dowd Representing and promoting the organisation at
international level and with other organisations.
Coordination of conferences and events.
Vice-President Francesca Helm
Secretary
Communications Officer Sake Jager Responsible for developing the online platform and
the organisation’s social networks
Treasurer Local Office León In charge of accounts and bank account etc.
First Research Officer Tim Lewis In charge of organising and promoting research
initiatives, project proposals between members
etc., research training workshops (1 every 2 years)
Second Research Officer Elke Nissen
First Publications Officer Melinda Dooly Setting up and running an online open-source
journal for the organisation
Second Publications Officer Breffni O’Rourke
First Training Officer Mirjam Hauck Organising Telecollaborative training events –
workshops for educators new to the field etc. (1
every 2 years)
Second Training Officer Gosia Kurek

11. • Important rules and regulations:
• Board members can only stay in their position for 2 years.
Change-over at bi-annual conference.
• Each pair of board members (e.g. first and second research
officer) have obligation to organise one event/publication per
year.
• Individual members: 40€
• Institutional members: 150€
• Commercial members: 150€
• (From 2018 conference: Membership fee for that year will be
included in the conference fee.)

12. • What do you get for your money?
• Priority in applications for training / research events
• Inclusion in ‘members-only’ mailing list with
information on sources of project funding etc.
• Support for finding partners for telecollaborative
projects

13. • Are you interested?
• What suggestions do you have for us?
• Add your contact details and suggestions
here…