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About BeCOIL

Within the scope of our COIL project we collaborate with a range of partners to enable educators and students from universities all over Berlin to take part in COIL trainings and to exchange our experiences on virtual learning.

Objectives

  • Establishment and expansion of sustainable COILs at the Berlin universities
  • Standardization of formats and use of shared resources (such as COIL training for students and instructors)
  • Improvement of non-mobile students‘ participation in obtaining international and intercultural competencies
  • Advancement of digital and methodological skills for instructors in online teaching within an international context
  • Creation of shared guidelines and quality standards for integrating COILs into international teaching and learning experiences
  • Utilization of synergies and multiplication of expertise within and beyond the network
  • Sustainable establishment of the concept of „Internationalization at Home“ for all Berlin universities.

Activities

  • Definition and formulation of further education needs in COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) didactics and implementation.
  • Finding solutions for administrative obstacles (e.g. credit transfer, recognition of achievements, etc.)
    Participation in training and further education measures for COIL didactics
  • Implementation of sustainable COILs in collaboration with international partners
  • Regular exchange of experiences between the associated universities.
  • Inter-cultural support and preparation courses for students before and during COIL activities to ensure international learning
  • Presentation of results at national and international network meetings and conferences
  • Utilization of a shared online presence (e.g. website, social media).
  • Development of best practice formats

What is COIL

Collaborative Online International Learning is a virtual exchange or global classroom format. Students and teachers from at least two different countries work online and collaboratively across national borders on a topic or issue. COILs offer location-bound participants the opportunity to exchange ideas internationally anyways.

COIL courses are conducted synchronously as well as asynchronously, are anchored in the curriculum or are offered as electives. They offer a good and forward-looking opportunity to link study programs and cooperation with partner universities more closely and to promote an international change of perspective and exchange of experience among students and teachers.

Projects

Events

Virtual BeCOIL Meetup on June 10th

During this 60-minute discussion session Dr. Mia Cirkveni (Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Business in Osijek, UNIOS, Croatia) will share her and her students’ enriching experiences from participating in COIL projects and organizing a telecollaboration within the field of English for Specific Purposes (ESP). Seasoned COIL practitioners

Innovative Learning Exchange: Insights from the First Hybrid COIL Bar Camp

Participants from around the world gathered in Mainz, both in-person and online, to explore diverse topics in virtual learning and share valuable insights at the first COIL Bar Camp. On March 4, 2024, the first hybrid Bar Camp on the topic of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) took place. The

Virtual BeCOIL Meetup on May 13th

Dr. Mirjam Hauck (The Open University, England) will kick off this 60-minute discussion session by presenting her research on „VE through the social justice and inclusion lens“. The floor will then be opened for an exchange of ideas and questions. Seasoned COIL practitioners as well as COIL enthusiasts from Berlin

COIL meets SDGs

Business Studies and Finance students from HTW Berlin and its partner universities Inholland (The Netherlands), HOGENT (Belgium) and CEU San Pablo (Spain) recently worked together for a COIL project. Over several weeks, the participants created their own online game around the global Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) while collaborating in internationally

Virtual BeCOIL Meetup on April 10th

Prof. Dr. Bianka Lichtenberger (University of Applied Sciences UAS of the Grisons) will kick off this 60-minute discussion session by reflecting on her experience in Blended Learning International Collaboration (BLIC) as well as offer insights into research on the learning outcomes and effectiveness of international collaboration. The floor will then

Hybrid COIL´DE Bar Camp

Join our hybrid event to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the advancement of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) in Germany and abroad. A Bar Camp is a participant-driven event for collaborative discussions and activities based on attendees’ interests. There is no preset agenda, you co-create the event! In order to

Virtual BeCOIL Meetup

Prof. Birgit Felden (HWR Berlin) will kick off this 60-minute discussion session by reflecting on the numerous COIL and BIP projects she has initiated with US and European partners as part of the “Entrepreneurship and Business Succession” degree programme. The floor will then be opened for an exchange of ideas