EXCHANGE DIPLOMACY IN THE MATTER OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Around the world, cultural and educational events are employed as a component of public diplomacy. Due to cultural and educational activities, there is a growth in mutual understanding between nations and a strengthening of long-term relations. Countries must listen to what others have to say in order to develop and effectively articulate their own interests. This is necessary for exchange programs to be effective public diplomacy tools. People get more connected to one another as they get to know and understand one another, miscommunications are cleared up, and lasting relationships are developed to open doors for various types of partnerships. By assessing virtual Erasmus+ mobility in the framework of exchange diplomacy during the Covid-19 pandemic phase, this study seeks to ascertain the status of making a contribution to public diplomacy. Answers to the research questions posed in the purpose section of the study are sought through structured interviews with international students using descriptive analysis, one of the qualitative research methodologies. This study is the first to evaluate virtual mobility within the context of exchange diplomacy, and it shows that programs for virtual exchange will also support public diplomacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]