What if your campus could offer real global experience without sending students abroad?
Suny COIL has led a model that pairs faculty across borders to bring peer-to-peer projects into regular classes. This approach makes global learning part of the syllabus and keeps costs low for institutions.
Our programs help U.S. universities expand access for students. Faculty get support to plan, match partners, design activities, and assess outcomes. The result is stronger student engagement and measurable gains in intercultural skills.
From introductory general education to upper-division offerings, these designs fit many disciplines. Students work in diverse teams, practice real-time problem solving, and build applied teamwork and communication skills.
Explore how COIL-based designs can align with institutional goals, complement study abroad, and extend high-impact education to far more learners. Ready to see what this model can do for your campus?
Accelerate global learning with expert-led online programs designed for U.S. universities, faculty, and students
Fast-track campus-wide global engagement with focused, expert-facilitated online programs that fit academic calendars. Our model gives faculty practical steps and instructors the coaching they need to embed collaborative online modules into on-campus curricula.
We run a two-day COIL Basics Workshop during Winter Break (Dec 2025–Jan 2026) followed by seven intensive Learning Community sessions in Spring 2026. Participants co-design undergraduate modules, pilot them, and present at a COIL teaching and learning symposium in December 2027.
- Structured, time-bound support from scoping to pilot delivery with clear milestones and coaching.
- Hands-on facilitation strategies, assignment design, and assessment templates for faculty and instructors.
- Institutional planning tools, communication frameworks, and secure technology guidance to enable scale.
- Student-centered, inclusive design that anticipates language, access, and scheduling differences.
Application timeline: Call for Applications Sept 1, 2025; Deadline Oct 15, 2025; Notification Nov 15, 2025. This program helps institutions build measurable engagement and durable education outcomes while keeping disruption low.
What is COIL and how our collaborative online international model powers global learning
COIL turns campus classrooms into global teams by linking faculty and students across borders through focused online projects.
Definition and purpose
The COIL model is a flexible framework that connects classes in different countries for shared teaching and learning. It operates as a virtual exchange where partners pick tools, timelines, and tasks that fit their goals. This approach gives students practical experience in teamwork and intercultural understanding without required travel.
Origins and leadership
The SUNY COIL Center launched COIL in 2006. Since then, SUNY COIL has offered training, case studies, and a growing knowledge base. The American Council on Education has recognized the model for over a decade.
Methodology and alignment
Faculty co-design linked modules that integrate into home syllabi. Students work on joint research, comparative projects, and shared deliverables. For higher education leaders, COIL is a cost-effective strategy to widen access and meet institutional goals for equity and global learning.
| Feature | What it means | Benefit for institutions |
|---|---|---|
| Flexible design | Faculty choose tools and outcomes | Fits academic calendars |
| Peer exchange | Students collaborate across countries | Scales access to global learning |
| Established support | Resources from SUNY COIL Center and ACE | Reduces startup risk |
International collaboration learning courses: formats, modules, and support
A sequenced faculty development plan pairs hands-on workshops with iterative design sessions for fast course readiness. This pathway helps faculty and instructors move from concept to classroom-ready modules that fit standard semesters.
Faculty development pathways: COIL Basics Workshop and Learning Community (Spring 2026)
Start with a two-day COIL Basics Workshop during Winter Break 2025–2026. The workshop covers outcomes alignment, assessment mapping, and technology choices suitable for cross-campus teamwork.
Seven Spring sessions follow. Those meetings act as design sprints for peer feedback, rubric calibration, and facilitation planning. Each participant leaves with a module ready to teach in Fall 2026 or Spring 2027.
Course design and implementation: Co-designed modules embedded in undergraduate courses
Instructors co-design a module with a partner instructor and embed shared activities—like comparative case studies and co-authored deliverables—into existing syllabi. Assessments balance process and product and include reflective tasks to document student growth.
Partner discovery and resources: COIL Connect, ACE, AAC&U, and SUNY COIL Center
- Use COIL Connect to find partners and view profiles of prospective departments and instructors.
- Access curated resources from ACE, AAC&U, FIU, the Stevens Initiative, and the SUNY COIL Center for examples and funding leads.
- Rely on support templates for scheduling, communication norms, accessibility, and privacy-aware technology selection.
Proven impact through real-world collaborations and student outcomes
Real-world projects between partner campuses produce clear evidence of improved student skills and stronger faculty networks.
Case study spotlight: UA–Chiba University partnerships
The ACE U.S.-Japan COIL Initiative paired UA with Chiba University, linking faculty such as Cory Callahan, Leigh Dickson, Katsuki Umeda, and David Casenove. From Fall 2019 to 2024, nursing, education, language, and arts offerings ran joint modules.
Student learning gains
Nursing cohorts compared healthcare systems and family-centered care. Education students co-designed classroom activities and refined teaching perspectives.
Documented gains include better intercultural communication, perspective-taking, and teamwork. A peer-reviewed case study by Takamitsu and Kent provides evidence of these outcomes.
Institutional benefits
Partnerships yield durable faculty ties, joint research opportunities, and campus symposiums that scale global learning to more students around world.
| Area | Example | Student impact | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health | Nursing comparative projects | Improved clinical perspective | Faculty assessments, reflective reports |
| Education | Social studies co-design | Stronger pedagogy and materials | Course artifacts and pilot tests |
| Language & Arts | JA 101, ARH 356 | Broader cultural understanding | Published case study, student reflections |
How we support institutions, instructors, and students from idea to implementation
A structured pathway helps institutions move from pilot design to measurable program scale. We map clear dates — Call for Applications (Sep 1, 2025), Deadline (Oct 15, 2025), Notification (Nov 15, 2025) — through a COIL Basics Workshop (Dec 2025–Jan 2026), Spring 2026 design sprints, implementation, and a December 2027 symposium.
Program scaffolding
We guide institutions through selection, foundational training, iterative design, and campus dissemination. Planning tools assign roles, track milestones, and set quality checks so course activities meet stated outcomes.
Technology-enabled engagement
Instructors get facilitation templates for synchronous meetings and for asynchronous project work. We address time-zone navigation, communication norms, and tool choices that reduce friction for partner teams.
Professional development and research
Our team curates funding, showcases, and paths to publication.
“Sustained support and practical templates turn pilots into repeatable, high-impact models.”
Collaboration with ACE, AAC&U, the Stevens Initiative, FIU, and the SUNY COIL Center ensures access to exemplars that strengthen engagement and long-term impact.
Conclusion
Start small and build momentum: launch a focused module, test with a partner, and scale from there.
COIL-powered, collaborative online approaches let a university expand access and boost student skills without extra travel. The SUNY COIL Center and ACE offer proven templates and examples to guide each step.
Faculty gain repeatable design patterns and peer support. Institutions can standardize assessment, tech, and partner processes so quality stays high across terms.
Next steps: pick a course, invite a partner, scope outcomes, and run a short virtual exchange module to gather evidence and grow a portfolio.
FAQ
What are the top collaborative online programs for U.S. universities, faculty, and students?
Many institutions offer expert-led virtual exchange programs that pair faculty with global partners. Look for offerings from the SUNY COIL Center, the American Council on Education (ACE), and AAC&U that include faculty development workshops, co-designed modules, and structured student activities. These programs emphasize measurable competencies, scalable models, and institutional support so campuses can add global experiences without major travel budgets.
What is COIL and how does this model support virtual exchange?
COIL stands for Collaborative Online International Learning. It’s a flexible virtual exchange approach that connects classes across borders through co-taught modules, shared assignments, and joint projects. The SUNY COIL Center led early development and still provides training, resources, and a network to help faculty design effective exchanges that build intercultural skills and course-level outcomes.
How did the SUNY COIL Center shape this approach?
The State University of New York (SUNY) COIL Center pioneered structured virtual exchange practices, created faculty training pathways, and established community standards. Today its influence remains through training workshops, COIL Connect matchmaking, and documented case studies that show how co-designed activities improve engagement and learning results across disciplines.
What formats and modules are used in these online programs?
Programs use blended formats: synchronous sessions for real-time interaction and asynchronous tasks for reflection and collaboration. Typical modules include joint lectures, paired discussion boards, shared research projects, peer assessment, and cultural briefings. Faculty can embed short modules in undergraduate courses or run semester-long team projects that mirror research and professional practice.
How can faculty prepare to lead a collaborative online exchange?
Faculty development pathways often start with a COIL Basics Workshop, followed by participation in a learning community. Training covers partnership building, course design, assessment strategies, and tech tools. Institutions also sponsor seed grants and mentorship so instructors can pilot exchanges with partner universities and refine methods before scaling.
Where can institutions find partners and resources to start exchanges?
Use platforms and networks such as COIL Connect, SUNY COIL Center resources, ACE initiatives, and AAC&U frameworks to discover partners. These resources offer matchmaking, sample syllabi, assessment rubrics, and case studies. Institutional international offices and faculty networks are also valuable for identifying aligned programs and disciplines.
What evidence shows impact on students and institutions?
Evaluations consistently report gains in intercultural competence, collaborative problem solving, language development, and global perspectives. Case studies — for example collaborations between U.S. campuses and Chiba University in nursing and education — demonstrate improved student engagement and practical skills. Institutions benefit from scalable global offerings, new research links, and enhanced curricular innovation.
How are exchanges assessed for student learning gains?
Assessment uses mixed methods: pre/post surveys for intercultural competencies, rubric-scored project work, reflective journals, and peer feedback. Programs document outcomes against institutional learning goals and often publish results in symposiums or case study collections to inform continuous improvement.
What technology supports effective virtual exchange?
Successful exchanges combine videoconferencing (Zoom, Microsoft Teams), learning management systems (Canvas, Blackboard), collaborative tools (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365), and asynchronous platforms for discussion. Selection focuses on accessibility, data privacy, and tools that support group work and media sharing.
How do programs handle time zones and scheduling for synchronous sessions?
Faculty plan flexible schedules with rotating meeting times, asynchronous alternatives, and recorded sessions. Clear expectations about participation windows and use of collaborative documents reduce scheduling barriers. Advance coordination with partner instructors ensures equitable student workloads across time zones.
What institutional supports help projects move from idea to implementation?
Institutions provide seed funding, administrative coordination, instructional design support, and recognition for faculty work. A structured pipeline—from call for applications to symposium presentation—helps teams iterate, evaluate, and scale successful pilots while maintaining quality and compliance.
Can exchanges be used for research and professional development?
Yes. Faculty often leverage exchanges for joint research, pedagogy studies, and conference presentations. Professional development pathways include grant opportunities, published case studies, and showcases that disseminate best practices and encourage continuous improvement across campuses.
How do programs ensure equitable and meaningful student engagement?
Programs use co-designed assessments, clear role definitions, culturally responsive facilitation, and structured reflection to promote equity. Accessibility planning, regular check-ins, and instructor moderation ensure that all students contribute and benefit from collaborative activities.
