Vega schools launches video exchange programmes

NEW DELHI: Vega Schools, the only Indian institution in the Global Schools’ Alliance, will be linked to the grouping’s ‘immersive virtual learning’ project to help all its students to interact with their counterparts and teachers in other countries, a step up from student exchange programmes that typically limit participation to a select few.

Starting next year, the school will set up a video wall that will allow the first batch of 200 students and teachers to connect with the other seven GSA member-schools based in Europe, the US, Australia and New Zealand for collaborative learning.

Schools usually offer exchange programmes for a handful of students and teachers. But Denmarkbased GSA is working towards widening the scope of interaction between students and teachers of different countries by setting up a high-speed internet network linking its member schools. "Every school has committed Rs 25 lakh for a virtual setup for immersive learning," said Sandeep Hooda, cofounder of the Gurgaonbased Vega Schools.

Hooda said it is important that children understand and build relationships around the world in a non-classroom format of learning. The GSA was formed in 2012 with the objective of helping schools adapt to a rapidly changing world.

At the GSA’s three-day symposium in New Delhi last week, representatives of partner schools chalked out a plan for the project and its curriculum, which will be tied to the syllabus and includes assessment of how the students perform.

"It is the next natural progression for new-age schools to be connected to each other. We live in a global village and education needs to be part of it as well," said Lene Jensby Lange, head of the GSA. Schools should be connected to each other globally to provide a more holistic learning experience, she said.

Last month, the founders of Vega Schools told ET they were considering investing about Rs 200 crore over the next five years to expand in India.