Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)

What is COIL?

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) connects students and professors in different countries for collaborative projects and discussions as part of their coursework.

COIL Collaborations between students and professors provide meaningful, significant opportunities for global experiences built into programs of study.

COIL enhances intercultural student team focused interaction through proven approaches to meaningful online and virtual engagement, while providing universities with a cost-effective way to ensure that their students are globally engaged.

Source: https://coil.suny.edu/

INTERNATIONAL COURSE COLLABORATION AT HOCHSCHULE MAINZ

Idea

Students collaborate in virtual teams with students from partner universities abroad
Over five to six weeks, students develop concepts and solve problems together with their international partners
Students present their ideas in jointly developed presentations and reports

Benefits & added value

Exchange with students from other countries
Promotion of intercultural skills
Development of skills in global project management through practical experience of the challenges
Gaining additional media skills (use of collaborative platforms and social media)
Increased motivation on the part of students through the practical applicability of theoretical knowledge
Expansion of the personal network of students and teachers

Application

The Business School at Mainz University of Applied Sciences carries out several COIL projects a semester in various areas of study, including Business Administration, Applied Computer Sciences, Business Informatics, and Business Law. These projects are embedded in the courses and involve students collaborating over anywhere from four to eight weeks.

Some of the COIL projects include Virtual Business Professional (VBP) – a project involving 14 universities and 900 students across the world, Global App Project with Coastal Carolina University, USA, and more recently a short-term project with students at the Jaipuria School of Business, India.

COIL'DE Network

In 2020, Prof. Dr. Stephanie Swartz founded the COIL'DE network together with colleagues from other German universities. Our network now has over 20 members from many different universities and colleges in Germany.

We have been meeting roughly every month since 2020 to discuss topics relating to Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) that are particularly relevant to the German higher education landscape. Our aim is to contribute to the establishment of COIL projects at universities and to expand the exchange with people interested in COIL.