Internationalization at Home / Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)
What is COIL?
Collaborative Online Intercultural Learning (COIL) is an impactful approach for enhancing internationalization at home by creating a multicultural learning environment that connects classes across different countries.
COIL fosters intercultural connections and skills development through in-depth cooperation between paired faculty codesigning course components or entire courses where students collaborate in small groups on shared projects using various communication technologies.
Why Participate in COIL?
Benefits for students:
- internationalizing the curriculum
- international networking experience
- fostering intercultural dialogue and skills
- improved understanding of course topics from diverse and intercultural perspectives
- experiencing cultural exchange without the costs or challenges of travel
- enhancing employability skills through practical experience and intercultural credentials
Benefits for faculty members:
- fostering deeper and more diverse engagement with course or research topics
- facilitating international connections and networking
- developing teaching experience in an international context
How to get started?
A COIL project consists of two or more collaborating classrooms, where students work directly with each other through the use of online technologies. Instructors of the collaborating classrooms design the project over a period of 6-12 months in advance of the start of the semester taking into account the academic levels of students in both cohorts, duration of the project, assessment requirements between the two institutions, and the best collaboration platform for students to use. A COIL curriculum component could be in various formats that provide real-world experience and emphasize potential global issues.
Where to get support?
Our COIL Coordinators at the Internationalization Office support instructors in assisting with searching and coordinating with international partners and helping to develop course program and project activities. For more information, please fill out the COIL interest survey or reach out to us at goabroad@mun.ca.