PIONEERing COIL: Collaborative Virtual Learning for a Sustainable Future

COIL offers faculty members at TH Köln and PIONEER Alliance partner universities an opportunity to create cross-border learning experiences without the need for physical travel.

The PIONEER Alliance, a network of 10 European universities, is dedicated to shaping the future of inclusive, sustainable, and resilient cities by providing students and lifelong learners with essential skills in a European environment. Through its mission, PIONEER connects academics, public institutions, private organizations, and citizens to address the ecological, societal, and economic challenges faced by cities of tomorrow.

Once launched, COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) will serve as a critical tool in advancing these objectives. By fostering virtual, cross-border collaboration between students and faculty across the alliance’s institutions, COIL will enable:

• Cross-Cultural Learning: Students and educators will gain global perspectives essential for tackling real-world urban challenges.
• Interdisciplinary Innovation: Collaborative projects will address the correlations of sustainability, inclusion, and resilience.
• Knowledge Exchange: COIL will strengthen partnerships across PIONEER universities, driving co-creation in research, education, and urban transformation.

COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) is a virtual exchange method that enables students and educators from different countries to collaborate on shared projects. Students gain cross-cultural experiences and develop global competencies, such as language skills, teamwork, critical thinking, and digital literacy.

Key Features

• Cross-Cultural Collaboration: Students work together on shared assignments or projects, promoting virtual exchange.
• Faculty Collaboration: Professors co-develop course content and lead joint learning activities.
• Integrated Learning: COIL is embedded in existing courses, enhancing regular studies with global perspectives.
• Online Tools: Video conferencing, collaborative editing, virtual co-creation and learning management systems facilitate seamless collaboration.

Here are some ideas for COIL projects:

• Joint Research: Students investigate topics like urban sustainability across borders.
• Case Studies: Multicultural teams propose solutions to real-world challenges.
• Business Simulations: Teams manage virtual businesses, navigating cultural complexities.
• Intercultural Communication: Language students collaborate on writing projects and cultural reflections

1.    Submit a Partner Matching Request:
If you're interested in starting a COIL but don’t yet have a partner, fill out our Partner Matching Form. Let us know your course topic, teaching goals, and preferences, and we’ll help connect you with a lecturer from one of the PIONEER Alliance universities.

2.    Build the Collaboration:
Once a match is confirmed, you and your partner will co-develop your COIL course—supported throughout by the COIL Competence Center. We provide guidance on project design, didactic planning, tool selection, and intercultural considerations.

3.    Apply for Funding:
After your partnership is established and your course plan is underway, you can apply for project funding. Funding is available for:

•    A student assistant (WHK) to support project coordination
• A short in-person planning meeting (up to three working days) with your COIL partner

4.    Launch Your COIL:
Implement the course activities and engage your students in cross-border collaboration through a mix of synchronous and asynchronous formats.

For faculty members, PIONEERing COIL offers opportunities for professional development by enhancing your teaching with innovative methods for international collaboration. You will be able to create virtual classrooms that foster intercultural learning experiences. Additionally, PIONEERing COIL enables you to build lasting global partnerships across Europe, strengthening your academic network for future collaborations in research and teaching.

For students, PIONEERing COIL provides a chance to experience international collaboration without the need for physical travel, expanding their global learning perspectives. It also helps improve cross-cultural communication and teamwork skills, as students engage with peers from diverse backgrounds. Through these experiences, students prepare for global work environments and gain valuable digital collaboration skills for their future careers.

• Open to professors, lecturers, and teaching staff from TH Köln and PIONEER partner universities.
• Applicable to undergraduate and graduate courses across all disciplines.
• Collaborations can include external organizations or non-PIONEER universities.

The process is divided into two steps:

1.    Partner Matching (if needed) – via our Partner Matching Form

2.    Funding Application – available after your partnership and course plan are confirmed

The funding application will require:

• A short project description
• Course and student group information
• Draft learning objectives
• Partner details
• Supposed timeline of the COIL

More information on the application form will be published soon.

PIONEERing COIL is coordinated by the Center for Academic Development (ZLE) at TH Köln. For questions, assistance with partner matching, or more information about PIONEERing COIL, please reach out to coil-projects@th-koeln.de.

ZLE provides access to cutting-edge higher education research, academic support, and a platform for the exchange of ideas and co-creation. It fosters innovation in teaching and promotes the integration of transformative teaching into TH Köln’s institutional system. Interested faculty members from partner universities within the PIONEER Alliance are encouraged to reach out. Let's shape the future of European education together!