Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)

Global learning in the classroom

Collaborative Online International Learning

COIL connects Cal State LA courses with courses around the world so students can learn with international peers as part of their regular coursework.

No travel is required. COIL expands access to meaningful global and intercultural learning across the curriculum.

Global learning for all

Bring the world into the curriculum

COIL gives students the opportunity to work directly with international peers, exchange perspectives, and learn across cultures without leaving Cal State LA.

Watch

What is COIL?

This short video from Florida International University offers a quick introduction to Collaborative Online International Learning and how courses connect across countries, cultures, and disciplines.

Video courtesy of Florida International University.

The model

What makes a course COIL?

COIL is more than a guest lecture or one-time international Zoom. Students learn together through sustained, course-integrated collaboration.

Connect Courses

Faculty at Cal State LA and an international institution connect their courses around complementary learning goals.

Collaborate

Students interact directly with international peers and complete meaningful shared academic work.

Learn Across Perspectives

Students deepen course learning while engaging perspectives shaped by different cultural, social, and academic contexts.

Explore COIL

Find what you need

Cal State LA Faculty

Learn how to participate in Cal State LA's COIL initiative.

Get Started

Students

Learn what to expect when COIL has been designed into your course.

COIL for Students

Projects & Impact

See how Cal State LA faculty and international partners are putting COIL into practice.

Explore Projects & Impact

For Cal State LA faculty

Start with COIL Foundations

COIL Foundations provides the common preparation for Cal State LA faculty developing a COIL collaboration. Complete it independently in Canvas or use it alongside the live spring COIL faculty workshop.

Explore more

COIL at Cal State LA

Faculty & Community

Connect with colleagues at Cal State LA and with the wider COIL and virtual exchange community.

Explore the COIL Community

Research & Scholarship

Explore COIL and virtual exchange research, scholarly communities, conferences, and publication pathways.

Research & Scholarship

Resources

Find public resources for COIL design, student support, assessment, research, and professional development.

Browse COIL Resources

COIL Support

Find the right place to go with questions about participation, partnerships, students, or the Cal State LA COIL initiative.

Get COIL Support

Get started

Bring global learning into your classroom

Cal State LA faculty can begin with COIL Foundations and explore international partner possibilities along the way.