“Schools Exchange for Success” („Austausch macht Schule“) is the network of specialist support and funding organisations for international school and youth exchange in Germany. They have been working together since 2013 to strengthen, support and promote international exchanges among schools and pupils. The ten members of the group have seen first-hand that intercultural experiences are significant in shaping the lives of young people and in the long term promote better understanding of global relationships. The group calls for international school and youth exchanges to be firmly embedded in the educational system, advocating that every pupil should have the opportunity to take part in an intercultural exchange of some kind, either through meeting peers from other countries, time spent abroad or through virtual exchange. The organisations therefore work together to consolidate existing international activity, further develop relevant frameworks and introduce new initiatives to foster and promote school and youth exchange. Conferences and specialist events provide the opportunity for dialogue for teachers, youth workers and other education professionals. The initiative helps to develop training modules on international school and youth exchange with the aim of having them incorporated as core constituents in teacher training schemes. The network also acts as a platform, providing support for schools and youth groups as they work together and develop activities in the field of international exchange.
