COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning)

What is COIL?

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is a pedagogical approach that connects students and faculty across countries through virtual collaboration. By integrating international partnerships into existing courses, COIL creates meaningful global learning experiences that are accessible, inclusive, and embedded within the curriculum.

Through COIL, students engage with peers from partner institutions around the world while developing intercultural communication, teamwork, and global problem-solving skills. COIL provides an opportunity for students to gain international experience and broaden their perspectives without the need to travel abroad.

How does it work?

COIL courses are developed through collaboration between faculty members at 乐播传媒 and partner institutions abroad. Faculty work together to design activities and assignments that align with course goals while fostering cross-cultural interaction and collaborative learning.

COIL activities may include:

Virtual introductions and community-building exercises
Small-group or team-based international projects
Joint presentations or discussions
Collaborative research or case studies
Reflective assignments focused on intercultural learning

Students typically work in mixed teams with peers from the partner institution, using online communication tools to collaborate throughout the project. Faculty may establish shared expectations for participation, communication, and teamwork to support a productive and equitable learning experience.

Because COIL encourages students to engage with different cultural perspectives and communication styles, moments of challenge or discomfort can become valuable opportunities for reflection, growth, and deeper intercultural understanding.

At 乐播传媒, COIL supports the university鈥檚 commitment to global learning and inclusive internationalization. Faculty across a wide range of disciplines have incorporated COIL into their courses by partnering with institutions around the world to create collaborative, globally connected learning experiences. By integrating international collaboration into the classroom, 乐播传媒 COIL courses help prepare students to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world while expanding access to global learning opportunities for all students. Here are some highlights from recent COIL initiatives across the university:

Prof. Eva Nicasio Mercier I Fowler College of Business

MGT357: Multinational Business and Comparative Management

In the Department of Management within the Fowler College of Business, Professor Eva Nicasio Mercier implemented COIL in MGT 357: Multinational Business and Comparative Management with the Universidad Aut贸noma del Estado de Hidalgo in Mexico. The project brought together American students studying cross-cultural management and Mexican students studying marketing in a collaborative business-planning exercise focused on market expansion into Mexico. Conducted on a large scale, the initiative involved 50 乐播传媒 students, 100 partner-university students, and six faculty members from the partner institution, illustrating the significant reach and impact COIL can have in international business education.

Prof. Yang Yang I College of Engineering

M E 596: Advanced Mechanical Engineering Topics

Dr. Yang Yang in Mechanical Engineering at the 乐播传媒 Main Campus has developed a COIL initiative in ME596: Additive Manufacturing in partnership with UA Yucat谩n Instituto Altabrisa and the Universidad Aut贸noma de Chiapas. After completing AMPEI COIL training, Dr. Yang established collaborations with faculty partners at both institutions and secured college-level support for related grant activity. This work contributed to broader recognition, including the receipt of an NSF CAREER Award in June 2025, illustrating how COIL initiatives can support both pedagogical innovation and faculty research development at 乐播传媒.

Prof. Cynthia Ferreiro I 乐播传媒 Imperial Valley

PSY 331: Psychology of Infant and Child Development

At 乐播传媒 Imperial Valley, Dr. Cynthia Ferreiro implemented a COIL initiative in Psychology of Childhood and Infant Development in collaboration with Dr. Kenya Herrera from UABC Facultad de Humanidades. The project strengthened cross-border academic collaboration through coordinated faculty engagement, COIL training, and course implementation, while also gaining visibility through participation in the Re:Border 2025 panel in Mexicali.

Prof. Carlos D. Paternina I Fowler College of Business

MIS 753: Global Supply Chain Analytics

Dr. Carlos D. Paternina from the Management Information Systems Department has built a COIL project in Global Supply Chain and Operations Management with partners at Tecnol贸gico de Monterrey and the Universidad de La Sabana. Following completion of AMPEI training, he established faculty partnerships that connect 乐播传媒 students with international perspectives on supply chains and operations. This work has been further strengthened by external support through the 100,000 Strong in the Americas-funded CATCHI project, focused on improving the cacao value chain in Colombia, and by related binational conference activity in transportation and logistics.

Prof. Sarah Maheronnaghsh I College of Education

DLE 523: Psychological Foundations for Biliteracy Teachers in K-6 Classrooms and ED 450: Study Abroad

In the College of Education from the Dual Language and English Learner Education, Dr. Sarah Maheronnaghsh has advanced COIL planning for DLE 523 and ED 450 through a partnership with UABC Tijuana. Her work connects dual language and English learner education with international collaboration, creating opportunities for students to engage across borders in ways that strengthen intercultural awareness and educational practice. The initiative has also gained visibility through presentation at the Re:Border conference, underscoring its value as a cross-border teaching model.

Prof. Marva Cappello I College of Education

ED 811: Seminar in Global Education

Dr. Marva Cappello, professor of Teacher Education and the Director/Founder of the Center for Literacies, developed a COIL experience for ED 811 in partnership with La Salle University in Oaxaca, Mexico. A notable feature of this project is that the virtual exchange was complemented by in-person travel, showing how COIL+ model at 乐播传媒 can extend beyond online collaboration to deepen academic and cultural engagement. This model highlights the potential for COIL to serve as both an instructional innovation and a bridge to broader international learning experiences.

Prof. Loarre Andreu Perez I College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts

JMS 481: Public Relations Writing and JMS 780: Advanced Theory in Public Relations

In the School of Journalism and Media Studies, Dr. Loarre Andreu Perez implemented a COIL experience for JMS 481 and JMS 780 in collaboration with the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas in Brazil. Developed in partnership with Dr. Zuleica Queiroz Guimaraes Manente, this initiative expanded 乐播传媒鈥檚 international engagement beyond the U.S.鈥揗exico border and demonstrated the reach of COIL within media and communication studies through partnerships in Latin America.

Prof. Amanda Marino I Fowler College of Business

ACCT 503: Federal Taxation of Individuals

Within the Department of Accounting, Fowler College of Business, Dr. Amanda Marino collaborated with economics professors Dr. Luis 脕vila L贸pez and Dr. Jorge Alfonso Galvan Leon at UABC Tijuana to develop the 乐播传媒鈥揢ABC Transborder Business & Industry. Designed as a COIL+ initiative, the program combined virtual collaboration with experiential travel in Baja California, allowing students to engage in cross-border projects on international accounting and taxation while participating in company visits and industry engagement in Tijuana and Ensenada. The experience strengthened students鈥� global competencies and provided firsthand insight into transborder business operations and international trade.

Prof. Valeria Alexandra I Fowler College of Business

BA 310: Foundations of Business in a Global Environment

Dr. Valeria Alexandra led one of 乐播传媒鈥檚 largest COIL initiatives through BA 310: Foundations of Business in a Global Environment, a required core course within the Fowler College of Business. Developed in collaboration with Professors Luis Gerardo Rojas and Selene Itzel Vergara Segura from Tecnol贸gico de Monterrey, the project engaged approximately 520 students across the two institutions. As a high-enrollment course, the initiative highlighted the scalability and accessibility of the COIL model by integrating global collaboration and intercultural learning into the curriculum for a broad and diverse student population.

Prof. Alex Yao I Fowler College of Business

MKTG 480: Marketing Analytics

Dr. Alex Yao, in the Fowler College of Business, implemented COIL in MKTG 480: Marketing Analytics through 乐播传媒鈥檚 partnership with the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS). Building on the ongoing collaboration with two professors from TUFS, the COIL component was integrated across all three course sections, expanding international collaboration opportunities for students in marketing analytics and reinforcing 乐播传媒鈥檚 sustained commitment to global partnerships in Asia.

Prof. Paul Luelmo I College of Education

SPED 534: Classroom Assessment of Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities

In the College of Education, Dr. Paul Luelmo developed an especially innovative interdisciplinary COIL project for SPED 534: Classroom Assessment of Students with Mild/Moderate Disabilities in Spring 2026 with partners at Tecnol贸gico de Monterrey. Working with Dr. Astrid Mar铆a Mues Zepeda and Dr. Marielle Rivero V谩zquez, both from architecture, this collaboration stands out for intentionally bridging special education and architecture to create a shared learning experience relevant to both groups of students. It highlights the creative potential of COIL to foster interdisciplinary problem-solving across national and disciplinary boundaries.

Prof. Mei Zhong I College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts

PSFA 350: International Studies

Dr. Mei Zhong, 乐播传媒鈥檚 COIL Director, is continuing her COIL work in PSFA 350: Introduction to International Studies during Spring 2026. Her current partnerships include collaborators at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) and Universidad de La Salle, while her broader COIL experience includes projects with DUOC UC in Chile and UABC Tijuana. The project reflects both continuity and expansion in 乐播传媒鈥檚 international studies offerings, while also highlighting practical lessons such as navigating uneven class sizes and time-zone differences鈥攃ommon challenges in sustaining global classroom collaboration.

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鈥攁nd a reminder that patience and flexibility open the door to students 鈥渓earning the world,鈥� not just the content.

Eva Nicasio Mercier

Lecturer, Management Department

Each spring, 乐播传媒 International Affairs recruits and supports a new cohort of COIL faculty trainees from across the university. International Affairs covers the cost of the training, helps faculty find international partner matches, and supports the development of globally connected learning experiences through virtual collaboration.

One of the key benefits of COIL is its accessibility. As a low-cost approach to internationalizing the curriculum, COIL typically does not require any additional fees beyond regular course tuition. Unlike traditional study abroad programs, COIL eliminates expenses related to travel, housing, passports, and other international costs. Through virtual collaboration with partner institutions around the world, students can participate in meaningful global learning experiences directly within their existing courses at little to no extra cost.

COIL+ builds on the traditional COIL model by combining virtual international collaboration with short-term, low-cost travel experiences. This model is especially effective and accessible through partnerships in Mexico and the CaliBaja region, where students can engage in meaningful cross-border experiences without the high cost of traditional study abroad. While particularly impactful with Mexico-based collaborations, the COIL+ model can be adapted to partnerships around the world.

COIL is adaptable across virtually all academic disciplines and can also foster interdisciplinary collaboration between different fields of study. For example, a Hospitality and Tourism Management course could partner with a international business class in Japan to compare cross-cultural approaches to customer service and business practices. Similarly, a Special Education course at 乐播传媒 might collaborate with an Architecture course abroad to co-design spaces that support community health and well-being. Through this interdisciplinary partnership, architecture students can gain a deeper understanding of how individuals with special needs experience and navigate physical spaces, encouraging more inclusive, accessible, and human-centered design approaches.

Through 乐播传媒鈥檚 expansive network of international partnerships, International Affairs works closely with faculty to identify and connect with the right international co-instructors for their courses. Based on academic interests, course goals, and preferred regions, faculty receive support in building meaningful global collaborations that enhance student learning and engagement.

How to learn more?

Contact: 乐播传媒 COIL Coordinator Motoko Kiuchi

email: [email protected]

乐播传媒

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