GlobalCollaborative Online International Learning is an innovative way for your students to engage in dialogue with their peers around the world.
The University of Minnesota COIL Initiative supports several programs to further the process of integrating virtual exchange opportunities into teaching and learning. We offer COIL module development programming, in the form of our COIL Cohorts, both for internal and external audiences. And we offer a University of Minnesota COIL and Virtual Exchange Strategic Leadership Institute, which provides leadership development across institutions.
So what is COIL?
COILed courses focus on creating student-to-student interactions and opportunities to learn together with those who have perspectives different from our own. Typically COIL projects involve the co-development of a course module within an existing courses by two or more instructors from different countries, each of whom recognize that a valuable kind of learning occurs when students from different parts of the world work together on a common area of focus.
The nature of these collaborations can take many forms. Projects can vary in length and format, from projects lasting several weeks, to semester length projects, and from synchronous to asynchronous. Often instruction prepares students for collaborative group projects, active learning, and they most often involve synchronous meetings.
COIL projects are usually taught in the context of in-person classes, but they can also be developed as part of synchronous and asynchronous coursework. COIL courses often embrace the use of digital technology to bridge the distance that separates countries and partners. Forms of interaction include online discussion groups, videoconferences, class to class meetings, and group projects.
UMN COIL Strategic Leadership Institute
March 18-April 29, 2025
This six-week online strategic planning and networking experience is designed to enable higher education institutions to take their emergent or established COIL virtual exchange initiative to the next level of scale and engagement. Participants from both U.S. and non-U.S. higher education institutions of all types are invited to apply. Earn a University of Minnesota micro-credential! Learn more and apply.
Where to find a partner?
Interested in exploring potential COIL partners around the world? The University of Minnesota offers many partnering resources for COIL projects. Please contact COIL Director Dan Nolan (dnolan (at) umn.edu) for more info. We are also proud partners with COIL Connect (coilconnect.org) , which offers a list of active faculty and universities pursuing COIL development:
