COIL: Internationalize Your Teaching Through Virtual Collaboration

Looking to bring global perspectives into your lectures—without organizing a study abroad program? COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) is a flexible and low-barrier way to internationalize your teaching. By teaming up with an international partner, you guide students through shared, virtual projects that build intercultural skills, digital fluency, and subject knowledge. This page introduces a step-by-step guide to launching your own COIL, with practical tips and inspiring examples. Whether you are new to COIL or ready to expand, this is your starting point for meaningful, global collaboration in your course. 

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In a nutshell

Video: What is COIL?, YouTube, © BeCoil

COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) is a low-barrier way to internationalize your teaching—without the logistics of travel. It connects your classroom with students and educators abroad to collaborate on shared, curriculum-integrated projects. Through these guided virtual exchanges, students 

build intercultural communication skills

develop global awareness

strengthen digital collaboration abilities

deepen subject-specific knowledge through applied learning

For you as lecturers, COIL offers an exciting opportunity to 

enrich your course with international perspectives

expand your professional network through global partnerships

experiment with innovative pedagogical approaches and teaching formats

increase student engagement through real-world, cross-cultural collaboration

enhance your own intercultural competence by co-teaching with international colleagues

COIL is flexible, scalable, and highly rewarding—for you and your students. 

How to start a COIL

Starting a COIL project means connecting your course with a partner at another university to give students a structured, international learning experience—online and integrated into your existing teaching. This four-step guide walks you through the full process: from finding a suitable course and international partner, to designing shared activities, facilitating collaboration between students, and finally reflecting on what worked and what can be improved. COIL does not require a complete course overhaul—just the willingness to open your classroom to new perspectives. 

1. Starting the Journey: Setting Up a COIL Partnership 

Before students ever meet, COIL begins with identifying the right course and finding a like-minded international partner. You can find partners through your personal network or with assistance from the university. Educators align their course content and objectives, find common ground, and plan the collaboration framework. Early discussions cover academic calendars, time zones, digital tools, and teaching styles. At this stage, it is all about laying a strong foundation: What do we want students to learn, and how can they benefit from working across cultures? 

Tip

Before planning content, set up an informal virtual coffee chat with your COIL partner to share teaching styles, course goals, and cultural backgrounds. This builds trust and opens up honest dialogue from the start. For further information, see our article on setting up a COIL project.

2. Designing the Experience: Conceptualizing the COIL Course 

Once the partnership is formed, it is time to design a meaningful and engaging COIL experience. This phase involves defining shared learning goals, structuring student activities, selecting digital tools, and creating a timeline that works across institutions. Educators ensure students collaborate—not just cooperate—by designing interactive tasks and clear expectations. When done well, this stage bridges theory and practice in a truly global classroom. 

Tip

Plan activities that require interdependence—students should need each other to succeed. 

3. Bringing It to Life: Implementing the COIL Project 

Now the students take the stage. Through synchronous and asynchronous activities, teams work across borders on real-world challenges. They learn to navigate cultural differences, time zones, and digital platforms while developing critical global competencies. By the end, students not only achieve the course outcomes—they have also grown as global citizens. 

Tip

Schedule informal check-ins (either synchronous or asynchronous) midway through the project to troubleshoot, share progress, and adjust tasks or timelines if needed. 

4. Looking Back to Move Forward: Reflecting on the COIL Experience

The final phase of a COIL project is all about stepping back and making sense of the journey. Students reflect on what they have learned—about the subject matter, digital collaboration, and intercultural teamwork—while instructors assess what went well and what could be improved. This stage is not just about evaluation; it is about learning from experience. Educators analyze student feedback, refine their approach, and lay the groundwork for future COIL ventures. With each iteration, the collaboration grows stronger and more impactful. 

Tip

Stay in touch – plan a follow-up meeting with your partner months later to brainstorm future iterations or new course ideas. 

What your COIL could look like

Here are some examples of COILs for your inspiration: 

Description: Students collaborate across borders to research a shared topic, analyze findings, and present conclusions. 
Example: Students from TH Köln and partner university investigate the impact of urban green spaces on mental health. 
Deliverables: Joint research paper, presentation, or infographic. 

Description: Students share and compare cultural practices, histories, or social challenges through discussions or creative projects. 
Example: TH Köln and foreign students create short videos comparing local festivals or approaches to environmental sustainability. 
Deliverables: Video projects, blogs, or photo essays. 

Description: Teams create marketing campaigns tailored to specific cultural contexts. 
Example: Students from TH Köln and a partner university develop a marketing plan to launch a product in another country, considering cultural differences. 
Deliverables: Marketing video or campaign proposal. 

Description: Multicultural teams analyze real-world problems and propose actionable solutions, integrating diverse cultural perspectives. 
Example: Case study on sustainable urban transportation systems with contributions from TH Köln and a partner university 
Deliverables: Final presentation or policy recommendation report. 

Any questions?

Do not hesitate to reach out to us: coil-projects@th-koeln.de!

Links & Literatur

Berlin Universities‘ Joint Project on Collaborative Online International Learning
TH Köln: PIONEERing COIL
Commander, N. E., Schloer, W. F., & Cushing, S. T. (2022). Virtual exchange: a promising high-impact practice for developing intercultural effectiveness across disciplines. Journal of Virtual Exchange, 5,1-19. https://doi.org/10.21827/jve.5.37329

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