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Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)

Enliven your classroom through global virtual exchange!

Students participating in a COIL course

COIL is a virtual exchange pedagogy that fosters global competence through development of a multicultural learning environment, linking university classes in different countries. Using both synchronous and asynchronous technologies, students from different countries complete shared assignments and projects, with instructors from each country co-teaching and managing coursework. 

Critical digital literacy and virtual collaboration skills are more important than ever in tackling global challenges such as ideological divides, the impositions that borders place on the movement of peoples, media misinformation, and the disruption of ChatGPT and other emerging technologies. This local form of global engagement is an innovative way to traverse boundaries and make the “classroom learning” experience globally connected.

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  Virtual Exchange Info Sessions: Nov. 5 and 6, 2025

Attend an info session next week to learn about COIL! Hear from UW faculty who have previously implemented COIL into their courses in a variety of disciplines. Get inspired to explore COIL further through upcoming programming and funding.

This session will feature several UW Bothell faculty: Jason Lambacher (Political Science, IAS), Ursula Valdez (Environmental Science, IAS), Jin-Kyu Jung (Geography, IAS), Salwa Al-Noori (Biology, STEM)

This session will feature COIL Fellows from all three UW campuses: Meichun Liu (Industrial Design, Seattle), Yue Bian (Educational Studies, Bothell), TBD, Tacoma.

More information at: https://www.uwb.edu/connected-learning/global/coil-initiative