University of Glasgow Connect

Pathways to COIL

Charlotte Kedslie, Head of International Relations at the University of Glasgow, discusses how we embed collaborative online international learning at Glasgow.

Last year, the University of Glasgow published its Pathways to COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) guidance for staff - an institutional resource designed to help colleagues approach, establish, and embed COIL partnerships within their courses. This milestone was several years in the making, and I’d like to share our journey in developing it, as well as the key drivers that shaped our approach.

Recognising the growing demand for COIL

By early 2021, my colleagues and I had noticed a significant rise in interest in COIL, with more of our international partners asking whether we could jointly deliver COIL-based initiatives. COIL offers a valuable pedagogical and cultural opportunity, facilitating meaningful engagement across the globe by connecting communities, cultures, and disciplinary perspectives.

As part of my role in monitoring sector trends and their impact on Global Glasgow - our university’s international engagement strategy - I raised the potential of COIL at an internal meeting of our Learning and Teaching Strategy Committee. The response was overwhelmingly positive - there was strong leadership support for expanding COIL activity to enhance student and staff experiences of international collaboration. However, it was also clear that institutional support would be crucial to gaining momentum and increasing staff awareness.

Creating an institutional framework for success

We recognised that for COIL to flourish, we needed clear internal guidance, not just to support our own staff but also to signal to partners that we were ‘open for business’ and ready to collaborate. Our aim was to develop a process that would make setting up and delivering COIL as straightforward and impactful as possible, ensuring that staff and students had a positive experience.

Another key driver for us was the ability to track and report on COIL activities in relation to two of our Key Performance Indicators - student international mobility and meaningful international partnerships. We knew that while some colleagues were already delivering COIL-like activities, these weren’t always formally recognised or following a consistent approach. Rather than reinventing the wheel each time, we saw the benefit of providing a structured framework that would streamline the process and maximise impact.

Strengthening partnerships and looking ahead

The Pathways to COIL guidance was developed by our Learning and Teaching Strategy team, with valuable input from our International Relations team, particularly concerning partnerships and due diligence. We are also immensely grateful to our partners at the University of Denver, Universiti Malaya, and the University of Sydney, who shared their experiences and insights, helping us shape a resource that reflects best practices across the sector. We are now excited to be developing very interesting new programme ideas with Hong Kong University and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.

At Glasgow, we are committed to supporting the development of COIL with partners across the higher education landscape. As part of Global Glasgow, we see this as an exciting avenue for expanding virtual mobility, enriching learning experiences, and fostering deeper international collaboration. If your institution is interested in exploring COIL opportunities with us, we would love to hear from you. Let’s work together to create meaningful, innovative, and accessible global learning experiences.