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COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning)

What is COIL?

COIL stands for Collaborative Online International Learning and is a pedagogical approach connects classrooms across borders, allowing students to engage in global learning experiences through virtual collaboration. COIL is an innovative and accessible way to internationalize your course.

How does it work?

Developing a COIL module requires close cooperation between faculty members and their students. Instructors co-design shared activities, which often include:

  • Icebreaker or rapport-building exercises
  • Group formation and collaborative projects
  • Joint presentations
  • Reflective assignments

Shared learning outcomes and grading criteria are established together. Holding students to the same expectations—such as participation and teamwork—enhances the learning experience and ensures mutual accountability.

Students work in mixed teams with their peers from the partner institution. Initial activities should help students explore cultural differences and set the stage for deeper collaboration. Discomfort is a natural part of cross-cultural engagement and should be supported through guided self-reflection.

COIL Programs That Have Been Offered at Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­

Faculty frequently think that their course can't be made into a COIL program. However, faculty from across a range of disciplines have turned their existing courses into unique global learning opportunities for Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ students. 
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Launch a Company Across the U.S.–Mexico Border

Borderless Marketing in Action.   In Management 357, students don’t just study marketing—they do marketing. Binational teams design real marketing plans and feasibility studies to launch a company in both the U.S. and Mexico, guided by faculty from Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ and our partner university in Pachuca, Hidalgo.

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8 Faculty • 100 Students • 2 Countries

Team-Taught, Cross-Campus, Cross-Cultural   
 Finance, marketing, and economics faculty co-mentor mixed teams of American and Mexican students. Courses are co-taught through joint lectures, shared assignments, and collaborative projects that connect campuses in real time.
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Real Tools, Real Collaboration

From WhatsApp to Zoom: A Truly Connected Classroom
 Students work where global teams actually work: WhatsApp, Google Classroom, Zoom, Discord, and shared docs. They navigate time zones, language differences, and cultural expectations—learning professional collaboration long before entering the workforce.

students

Culture as a Classroom

From Día de los Muertos to Halloween
 Cultural exchange moves beyond theory. Students share traditions, slang, food, and everyday life. Cultural differences stop being bullet points in a lecture and become the faces and voices of their peers across the border.

Eva Nicasio Mercier

What faculty have to say

This COIL project advances departmental priorities in experiential learning, internationalization, and community building. Faculty gain a scalable model for cross-border collaboration—and a reminder that patience and flexibility open the door to students “learning the world,†not just the content.
Eva Nicasio Mercier
Lecturer, Management Department

Interested in learning more or partnering on a COIL project?

 Contact Program Development Specialist Motoko Kiuchi at [email protected].

As noted by de Wit (2013), “The term ‘collaborative online international learning’ combines the four essential dimensions of real virtual mobility: it is a collaborative exercise of teachers and students; it makes use of online technology and interaction; it has potential international dimensions; and it is integrated into the learning.â€

Creating a COIL module involves a significant time commitment. The Office of International Affairs is exploring options to compensate faculty for their efforts, such as providing course release time or offering a stipend.

Whether a COIL module meets the international experience requirement will be determined by the student’s respective college. Faculty are encouraged to consult their college’s International Affairs Liaison, who may contact the Office of International Affairs for further clarification.

There is no additional fee for students enrolled in a COIL course as compared to a traditional, non-COIL course.

Language differences are a natural challenge in COIL projects. Success depends on addressing these differences proactively. Instructors may integrate a language component into the curriculum, provide introductory language training, and use tools such as Google Translate. Where possible, lectures may be subtitled to support comprehension across languages.

COIL modules can be effectively paired with travel experiences. For instance, a virtual partnership with a foreign institution can precede an in-country component. This may involve Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ students visiting the partner institution or welcoming faculty and students from abroad to San Diego.

COIL is applicable across all academic disciplines and can facilitate connections between different subject areas. For example, a Hospitality and Tourism Management course could collaborate with a Hospitality class in Japan to explore cross-cultural approaches to service. Alternatively, a Public Health course at Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ might work with an Architecture course abroad to co-design spaces that promote well-being.

While traditionally designed for inter-university collaboration, COIL may also be implemented with international businesses or NGOs. However, to maintain its core objective—intercultural student collaboration—partner organizations must facilitate engagement with students from the target culture. This adds a layer of coordination for the non-academic partner.

The Office of International Affairs is actively seeking ways to connect Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ faculty with instructors at partner institutions. Faculty interested in developing a COIL module are encouraged to reach out. If existing international contacts already exist, faculty are welcome to develop modules independently with those partners.

There is no single required platform for COIL modules. Faculty and their international counterparts are encouraged to select the tools that best fit their shared instructional goals. Testing all platforms in advance is strongly recommended to ensure smooth implementation.

Grading should be coordinated between co-instructors to ensure equity and clarity. Students at both institutions should be held to similar standards, and COIL participation should be fully integrated into the overall course grade. Consistent expectations help support a high-quality student experience.

Students at Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ will enroll only in the Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­ course, while students at partner institutions will enroll at their own institutions. Cross-enrollment is not required.

COIL modules are designed to:

  • Encourage students to reflect critically on their identity in relation to their international peers.
  • Explore the impact of personal actions on others across the globe.
  • Integrate diverse perspectives on global challenges.
  • Cultivate ongoing engagement with global issues.

To meet these goals, faculty may include assignments such as:

  • Cultural research projects
  • Discussions of expected collaboration challenges
  • Critical self-reflection on cultural discomforts and differences
  • Analysis of how culture influences behavior
  • Identification of tools for global engagement


These elements may evolve based on faculty feedback. Updated Global Learning Outcomes will be available on the International Affairs website.

Âé¶¹´«Ã½Ó³»­â€™s Instructional Technology Services (ITS) supports faculty in the use of academic technologies. Faculty can access help at its.sdsu.edu/support. When choosing tools, it is essential to ensure that both faculty and students at the partner institution have equal access to the selected technologies.

It is entirely possible to develop COIL modules with more than one international partner. While this introduces additional complexity due to varying time zones and institutional differences, multi-country collaborations can be very successful.

Although the peer-reviewed literature on COIL is still developing, many institutions around the world have implemented it successfully. A leading resource in the U.S. is the SUNY COIL Center, which offers comprehensive information and guidance.

Because COIL modules require close collaboration between faculty at different institutions, the development process typically takes between three to six months. If partnerships and instructor interest are already in place, a module could be developed in time for the upcoming semester.

The format of a COIL course depends on various factors, including time zones, internet access, and language fluency. A common structure is 75% asynchronous and 25% synchronous, though this can vary. Some modules are entirely asynchronous, while others may incorporate live sessions if feasible.

Often, students are not aware that their course includes a COIL component until the semester begins. This allows for a broader range of students—including those unlikely to pursue international experiences voluntarily—to benefit from global learning. In some cases, promoting the international collaboration in advance may also attract curious and enthusiastic students.

COIL modules typically involve small intercultural groups of 4–6 students, with at least two students from each institution. This format allows for manageable collaboration and accommodates differences in class sizes.

Synchronous interaction is not required for COIL, and coordinating class schedules across time zones can be challenging. However, students may arrange synchronous meetings with their international peers outside class hours if appropriate. These meetings can be recorded using platforms like Zoom to share with instructors.

While COIL offers a rewarding and transformative experience for both faculty and students, it is time-intensive. The coordination and planning required are substantial—but the benefits of intercultural collaboration and global engagement are well worth the effort.

How to learn more?

COIL team

Contact:

Motoko Kiuchi email: [email protected]