Call for Papers for a Special Issue of the Journal of Virtual Exchange: Virtual Exchange in a Changing World: Innovation and Inclusion

2026-06-10
Call for Papers for a Special Issue of the Journal of Virtual Exchange:
Virtual Exchange in a Changing World: Innovation and Inclusion

Guest Editors:

Anna Nicolaou (anna.nicolaou@cut.ac.cy) & Shannon Sauro (ssauro@umbc.edu)

The theme of this special issue “Virtual Exchange in a Changing World: Innovation and Inclusion” 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 special issue captures not only the growing contexts, populations, and diversity of technologies represented in studies and practice reports published in JVE but also reflects the innovations and challenges that those of us working on virtual exchange/telecollaboration/COIL/teletandem initiatives face in making our initiatives inclusive and accessible to as many students and contexts as possible. This includes making initiatives available and equitable to students with different learning needs, schools and organizations serving zones of conflict, and countries and contexts with marked digital barriers.

This special issue will bring together a selection of empirical research studies and practice reports to explore the dynamic potential of VE to shape more inclusive and innovative learning environments across disciplines, countries, and learning contexts.

The special issue explicitly targets issues such as AI integration, equity, accessibility and inclusion, internationalization at home, global citizenship and social responsibility, digital collaboration mediated by emerging technologies, such as VR and AR, and blended intensive programs. This special issue provides a dedicated space to consolidate emerging knowledge and map the current landscape of scholarly work in virtual exchange. Authors are encouraged to address the following aspects of innovation and inclusion:

  1. The integration of new and emerging technologies to address issues of equity, accessibility and inclusion
  2. Approaches to fostering innovation and inclusion through internationalization at home, global citizenship, and social responsibility
  3. Innovative formats and practices for supporting equity, accessibility and inclusion
  4. Responding to challenges and changing landscapes in education, technology and geopolitics that cause issues for inclusion and equity

JVE Publication Timeline

Submission deadline for abstracts: July 15, 2026
Invitation for authors to submit manuscripts: July 25, 2026
Submission deadline for first drafts of manuscripts: September 15, 2026
Publication of Special Issue: March 31, 2027 

Journal of Virtual Exchange Submission Guidelines for Authors:

  • Please create an account with the Journal of Virtual Exchange (JVE).
  • Please go to: Submissionson the JVE website and follow the guidelines for submission (including anonymisation).
  • Authors who wish to submit a Research Articleshould click on that link on the general submissions page for specific guidelines regarding sections. Likewise, authors who wish to submit a Practice Report should review the respective section for this format.
  • When you submit, you will need to choose the correct article type (e.g. research article or practice report).
  • In your comments to the editors, please add: "This manuscript is for the special issue on Virtual Exchange in a Changing World.”

For questions, please contact:  anna.nicolaou@cut.ac.cy or ssauro@umbc.edu