Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)
Enhance your classroom through global virtual exchange
COIL is a virtual exchange pedagogy that fosters global competence through development of a multicultural learning environment that links university classes in different countries. Using both synchronous and asynchronous modalities, students complete shared assignments and projects, co-taught and managed by faculty members from each country.
Critical digital literacy and virtual collaboration skills are more important than ever in tackling global challenges such as ideological divides, the climate crisis, immigration, dis/misinformation as well as AI and other emerging technologies. This local form of global engagement is an innovative way to traverse boundaries and connect the classroom to the world.
Since 2014, the Bothell and Tacoma campuses – and in recent years the Seattle campus – have supported faculty at the University of Washington in developing and implementing COIL collaborations in their courses with structured training, a community of practice, and a stipend.
COIL awards are part of UW Global Innovation Fund this year
For anyone interested in applying to COIL for 2026, please apply via the UW Global Innovation Fund, which opened for applications on December 1, 2025. The deadline is January 31, 2026. Awards of up to $2,000 are offered to add International Virtual Exchange/COIL elements to your curriculum, helping students collaborate virtually with peers worldwide.
“Introduction to COIL” webinar
Natalia Dyba from UW Bothell Global Initiatives recently uploaded a webinar from the November info sessions called “Introduction to COIL.” In this 14-minute video, she explains:
- What is virtual exchange and what forms does it take?
- What are the key components of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) courses?
- What are UW examples of COIL courses?
- How does the UW support faculty doing COIL?
During the recent info sessions, COIL Fellows from all three UW campuses presented including Drs. Ursula Valdez, Jason Lambacher, Salwa Al-Noori, Meichun Liu, Yue Bain, and Vanessa de Veritch Woodside. These UW faculty have previously implemented COIL into their courses in a variety of disciplines. To view a recording of these informal share sessions, contact Sara Katz, UW Global, at sarakatz@uw.edu.
2025 UW COIL Fellows
Meet the 10 faculty members that were selected as 2025 UW Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Fellows and who come from various disciplines and backgrounds.
More information at: COIL Initiative