Students co-operate with teammates from around the world to solve problems, conduct research
At the University of Guelph-Humber (U of GH), students can gain valuable global learning experiences – some of which don’t even require travelling to far-away places. This fall, students accessed these opportunities through several Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) initiatives, connecting them with other learners from around the world.
During a COIL initiative, students work in virtual teams to solve a problem. This short-term, intensive experience gives students an appreciation for working in an international environment, while being exposed to a variety of cultural norms. It’s an innovative approach that enriches students’ learning experience, enhances global competence, and helps them develop essential skills like communication and teamwork in a multicultural context. And unlike with travel, these exercises are at no-cost for students, while allowing them to gain hands-on experience working with international partners, Media & Communication Studies (MCS) Chair Kathy Ullyott explained.
“Participating in this COIL program has been a fantastic experience that has strengthened my ability to collaborate across various time zones and languages. I’ve learned how different cultures and backgrounds can work together on different projects,” MCS student Taahirah Baksh said of her COIL experience. “This experience has taught me the importance of adaptability, communication, problem-solving, and patience in a global setting, and it has strengthened my confidence in working in a global virtual environment.”
The COILs at U of GH during fall 2025 included:
- A psychology research COIL (with the University of Nottingham and Texas A&M University)
- A business COIL (with University of Brasília)
- A COIL pertaining to Business and MCS students that Baksh took part in (with Avans University, Dania Academy, Manchester Metropolitan University, and Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Occidente)
The latter COIL – Business Innovations for Sustainability – involved 40 Business students and four MCS students collaborating with the other partner institutions (which are based in Denmark, Mexico, and the Netherlands), across four time zones, for three weeks. The goal was to evaluate a business and complete a critical reflection using the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on the platform Aim2Flourish. Participants also had to produce a video summarizing their findings. The challenge was to “think globally and act locally,” while assisting businesses in setting up for success.
As well, the group heard a guest lecture on sustainability from Bob Rae, Representative of Canada to the United Nations.
“The Honourable Bob Rae, Canada’s Ambassador to the United Nations, speaking on sustainable entrepreneurship was a truly inspiring highlight. His passion and international experience deeply resonated with our students and left a lasting impression,” Associate Head, Business Administration, Dr. Farkhanda Shamim said.
Dr. Shamim reiterated the value of this COIL experience for students: “First, the COIL encourages students to think more critically about sustainability and its vital connection to entrepreneurship. Second, it would provide an invaluable opportunity to exchange ideas and collaborate with students from around the world, gaining insight into how entrepreneurs in countries such as Denmark, the Netherlands, the U.K., and Mexico address sustainability within their unique contexts.”
Ullyott said the project in COILs that students complete are secondary to the global learning experience students gain. While any class could include projects, these are unique experiences that U of GH students could gain outside a traditional classroom setting to enhance their learning – something truly special.
Explore Guelph-Humber’s Global Learning Opportunities here.
Read about more COIL projects from the 2024-2025 school year:
Global learning in action: U of GH students compete in virtual business simulation challenge