COIL training from the Hague University of Applied Sciences

As Online Collaborative International Learning type of academic cooperation is gaining more traction within Ukrainian higher education, the Hague University of Applied Sciences jointly with the Twinning team arranged a 4-week online training for the Ukrainian academics from the Twinned institutions in April.

COIL, an innovative pedagogical approach, fosters cross-cultural collaboration among students from different parts of the world, enriching their educational experience and broadening their global perspectives. With the training, Ukrainian universities had the opportunity to delve into the intricacies of COIL implementation, gaining practical insights and knowledge over the course of four weeks. The concept is particularly beneficial for the Ukrainian context where male students and staff have limitations on leaving the country due to the active warfare and presents equal opportunities for students to engage in international collaboration without physical mobility barriers. 

The webinar series was supported by the research group Global Learning and led by the THUAS COIL Coordinator Reinout Klamer and is designed to empower participating universities to not only acquire essential theoretical foundations but also to embark on their own COIL projects. It also offered a platform for participants to present their COIL project ideas and receive invaluable feedback from experts in the field. 

The four-week webinar series covered a range of topics including: 

• Introduction to COIL and it’s place within Internationalisation of Higher Education 

• Getting started with COIL and finding an international partner 

• Designing Collaborative practices based on Internationalised Learning Outcomes related to the lecturer’s classes 

• The developement of intercultural, teamwork and digital competencies 

• Assessing and Evaluating COIL Projects 

As a result of the training, 28 Ukrainian academics from more than 20 have received an understanding and practical skills on how to prepare and develop a COIL project.