COIL – Collaborative Online International Learning / Virtual Exchange

Especially within Europe, the term "Virtual Exchange" is also used for 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

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

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Didactic competences

Technical support

Financial support

With which universities can I do COIL?

Example for COIL at the University of Vienna

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).