Virtual exchange in a broad context means any form of exchange through media.
In educational technology, virtual exchange is a field that promotes
This understanding is also known under other terms, e.g., e-tandems or tele-collaboration.
Here is a definition presented by Robert O'Dowd (University of León) in a talk (9/2018): “‘Virtual Exchange’, also referred to in foreign language education as telecollaboration, refers to the application of online communication tools to bring together classes of language learners in geographically distant locations with the aim of developing their foreign language skills and intercultural and digital competences through collaborative tasks and project work (Lewis & O’Dowd, 2016; O’Dowd, 2013).”