Why COIL?

October 30, 2025

You may have heard about Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) at Xavier. If not, COIL is a model for fostering cross-cultural student competencies through the development of a multi-cultural learning environment that links university classes in different countries. In other words, COIL is about teaching and collaborating virtually with people around the globe.

When Xavier received a COIL grant back in 2014, I had no idea the impact it would have on both my personal and professional journey. As a literacy professor, I have COILed with universities in Peru, Ecuador, Ireland, and Mexico – and would LOVE to connect with colleagues in more countries! I try to COIL at least once a semester because it enriches the learning in my classroom, promoting new and improved course design. Meeting colleagues and students from around the globe has inspired me to engage in both local and international work, focusing on justice issues in literacy education through a global lens with an intentional emphasis on interprofessional and intercultural collaborations. I like that feeling of connection – to people, to places, to current international events, and to what can be transformed around the globe. What could be more Ignatian?

And there is a lot of evidence that COIL is good for students by improving their global collaboration career skills, opening new possibilities for learning and being, and improving technology skills. Students talk to each other, make connections across cultures, languages, disciplines, and geography. This crossing of boundaries offers many benefits to their intellectual, social, and emotional development.

The Center for International Education and the Center for Teaching Excellence are collaborating to offer training to faculty in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). As part of the newly drafted strategic plan on internationalization at Xavier, COIL is included as a way to enrich the curriculum for increased student learning while addressing faculty professional development. This type of virtual engagement also helps increase Xavier's global network and reputation as students and faculty work with peers from other countries. 

If you’d like to be trained this fall and spring, please contact me with your interest (benderslackd@xavier.edu) by Monday, November 3.

Dr. Laney Bender-Slack
Professor, Co-Director, School of Education
Reading/TESOL Program Director
Faculty Director of Education Abroad