COIL – Collaborative Online International Learning / Virtual Exchange
Especially within Europe, the term "Virtual Exchange" is also used for COIL.
What is COIL?
Constituent elements of Collaborative Online International Learning are:
- Collaboration between teachers at universities in different countries: Teachers consult with colleagues at the partner university within their own, thematically similar course and plan joint online teaching units; courses do not need to be completely digital and can be combined with face-to-face teaching.
- Interactive tasks for students to work on in internationally mixed teams - "Students engage in collaborative online work with students from other universities as part of their studies at their local institution"
- Students receive credits for the course at their home university
Benefits
- Unbureaucratic implementation - no bilateral agreements or authorisation required
- International & intercultural experience for students, often also acquisition of foreign language skills, acquisition of digital competences
- Enabling international experience also for non-mobile students (care obligations, employment); climate-friendly
Resources for COIL at the University of Vienna
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Didactic competences
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Technical support
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Financial support
To support the additional work involved in organising COIL courses, the International Office is now funding tutors for COIL courses.
If you are interested, please contact franz.michalke@univie.ac.at, ext 18209. -
With which universities can I do COIL?
For COIL, it is recommended to work with colleagues from your own subject area who you already know. If that is not possible, there are also websites for COIL partner search:
https://www.unicollaboration.org/index.php/training-3/ -
Example for COIL at the University of Vienna
Element in new Erasmus+ programme generation (2021-2027)
Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes
The combination of COIL elements and short-term physical mobility (e.g. joint summer school, project week) can be funded as Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programme (BIP).