Collaborative Online International Learning COIL

Collaborative, virtual and international learning environments and the opportunity to engage with students from another country—that is COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) in a nutshell. As a learning and teaching format, it is exciting, challenging and culturally enriching to everybody involved. 

COIL was originally devised by the University of New York (SUNY)’s COIL Center and has since gained enormous traction around the world. In 2022, the HSLU launched an initiative to implement COILs at several of its Schools. The initial project, which started at the HSLU Schools of Engineering and Architecture, Business, and Computer Science and Information Technology, is partially funded by Movetia, the national agency for the promotion of exchanges and mobility in the education system. In addition to language and communication skills, COIL promotes digital and intercultural skills. Through COILs, students also reflect on their own cultural position within an international team. They appreciate the versatility of this learning method.

A COIL at the HSLU is a virtual international and/or intercultural collaboration. Students and lecturers at the HSLU work together on a joint task with students and lecturers from a partner university. The outcome must be clearly defined in advance and align with the module’s learning objectives. Though not impossible, physical mobility is not the rule in the framework of the COIL. Typically, COILs are integrated with existing modules without additional ECTS credits being awarded (issuing of digital badges). 
Lecturers interested in starting a COIL must first define the duration, the learning objectives and a potential evaluation/assessment together. 

Are you interested in starting a COIL and looking for a partner? Contact us via coil@hslu.ch.
You can also visit coilconnect.org for a list of our current programmes.