1. What is Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)?

COIL stands for Collaborative Online International Learning, which refers to “online learning in an international setting, with interactive involvement of students and faculty from different international and intercultural backgrounds in and outside the classroom” (Leask , 2020:188). 

COIL projects are based on the involvement of teachers and students, with different geographical origins, language and culture, for the development of collaborative teaching and learning processes using online communication tools. These projects are an accessible alternative to democratise the experiences of internationalisation (at home) of students and teachers, as well as an opportunity to enrich the process of building individual and collective knowledge, offering challenging dynamics of working in heterogeneous teams.

The main purpose of COIL initiatives is to promote learning experiences in international context within the courses. Thus, it represents an additional opportunity to complement the development of technical and scientific competences, as well as soft skills.