Student and educator exchange programs

Alberta Education offers virtual (online) language and culture exchange programs with:

• Quebec
• Ukraine
• Japan
• Spain
• Germany
• Mexico
• Italy

How to apply

All student applications must be submitted to [email protected] by the relevant program deadline date.

Applications that are incomplete or received after the deadline will not be accepted.

The deadline to apply for virtual student exchanges during the 2023/2024 school year, are:

• Quebec and Japan: October 10, 2023
• Mexico and Ukraine: October 15, 2023
• Spain and Germany: January 15, 2024
• Italy: February 15, 2024

Virtual student exchanges

• Read the application guidelines (PDF, 112 KB).
• Download and complete the virtual student exchange application form package (PDF, 1.0 MB).

Resources

The following brochures provide an overview of our student exchange program. A poster is also available for schools to use to promote the programs.

• Student Exchange Programs – Poster (PDF, 4.3 MB)
• Quebec: Virtual Student Exchange Program
• Germany: Virtual Student Exchange Program
• Mexico: Virtual Student Exchange Program
• Spain: Virtual Student Exchange Program
• Japan: Virtual Student Exchange Program
• Italy: Virtual Student Exchange Program
• Ukraine: Virtual Student Exchange Program

Alberta Education is launching a Virtual Student Exchange Program for Grade 10 Alberta students and students studying at an Alberta Accredited International School.

Students meeting the eligibility criteria will work in international groups, as well as working independently before and after group meetings, over an 8 week period to complete a series of Alberta curriculum-related challenges designed by the department. The 3 challenges relate to Alberta Grade 10 curriculum for Mathematics, Science, English Language Arts and Social Studies.

Students will receive a certificate to mark the completion of their student exchange program. The group with the best overall score will receive an award.

How to apply

Download and complete the AAIS Virtual Student Exchange Program application package (PDF, 114 KB).

Eligible students can apply by February 15, 2024.

Resource

• AAIS Virtual Student Exchange Program Fact Sheet (PDF, 113 KB)
• AAIS Virtual Student Exchange Program Poster (English) (PDF, 153 KB)

The application deadline for in-person student exchange programs for the 2023/24 school year has passed. For more information on the application process for the 2024/25 school year, visit the website again in Fall 2023

Resources

The following brochures provide an overview of our in-person student exchange programs. A poster is also available for schools to use to promote the programs.

• Student Exchange Programs – Poster (PDF, 4.3 MB)
• Germany: Student Exchange Program
• Japan: Student Exchange Program
• Mexico: Student Exchange Program
• Spain: Student Exchange Program

Liaison teachers play an important role in the success of our student exchange programs.

Liaison teachers help:

• promote the programs
• screen applicants and their families
• support Alberta students studying in other countries
• support exchange students studying in Alberta

Find out more about this professional development opportunity by reading the Liaison Teacher Guidelines (PDF, 202 KB).

Students can participate in an organized reciprocal student exchange program similar to what government offers. They can arrange these exchanges privately through an organization or on their own through an agreement with friends or family.

A one-to-one reciprocal student exchange involves 2 students who either:

• switch places and study at one another’s schools, or
• study together in an Alberta school district and then in the exchange school for equal periods of time

Students participating in a one-year exchange program not provided by Alberta Education must complete a Reciprocal Student Exchange Approval Form (PDF, 44 KB) before they leave for their exchange.

• Reciprocal Student Exchange Approval Form Instructions (PDF, 138 KB)

Find other exchange programs for youth in Canada.

Connect with the Student Exchange Programs:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 403-297-5896
Email: [email protected]

Short-term exchanges

Short-term exchanges give teachers and administrators one to 2 weeks of job shadow experience.

They are available in:

• Australia
• Iceland (administrators only)
• South Korea (pilot for special education teachers)
• Canada (Alberta)
• Germany
• Spain
• United Kingdom

Learn more in the Short-term exchanges brochure (PDF, 985 KB) or by visiting the Alberta Teachers’ Association website.

Long-term exchanges

Long-term exchanges give teachers a full year to work in another county or province outside Alberta.

Opportunities are available for full calendar (January to January) or school (July to July) years.

They are available in:

• Australia
• Germany
• United Kingdom
• Canada (provinces other than Alberta)

Learn more in the Year-long exchanges brochure (PDF, 603 KB) or by visiting the Alberta Teachers’ Association website.

Visit the Alberta Teachers’ Association website to apply.

Exchange programs can help give participants:

• a better understanding of other cultures
• enhanced language skills
• exposure to different education systems and assessment methods
• an opportunity to build an international network
• new teaching ideas

Connect with the Educator Exchange Programs:

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Phone: 780-447-9400
Toll free: 1-800-232-7208
Email: [email protected]