Submitted by: Michelle Wynn, mwynn@uca.edu on 09/30/2026
The Center for Global Learning is celebrating the tenth semester of our Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) in Fall 2026 with eight faculty offering nine courses with an embedded COIL unit for 159 students. UCA’s COIL program started in spring 2022 and has seen steady growth in participation to the point that it is now the largest COIL program in Arkansas.
Coined in 2006 by Jon Rubin, COIL connects two or more classrooms of collaborating students and instructors from different countries over the internet to solve problems, gain new perspectives on academic disciplines, and build global competencies.
UCA students working in COIL units in our “Global Classrooms” build their problem-solving, teamwork, and cross-cultural communication skills while completing a group project that requires them to collaborate and compromise with students in another country. Faculty are encouraged to align their COIL units with one or more of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
COIL by the numbers
UCA Collaborative Online International Learning Program: Spring 2022 – Fall 2026
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- Total COIL Classes Offered: 43 classes across 10 semesters
- Total Student Impact: 937 students enrolled
- Overall Unique Professors: 26 different professors have taught a COIL
- UCA faculty receiving COIL training: 58 professors have completed the UCA summer
Global Learning Institute
Resources & Opportunities for Faculty
- 7th Annual Global Learning Institute: May 24-25, 2027
GLI participants will learn about the COIL pedagogy and strategies for designing
collaborative projects aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
(#GlobalGoals). Participants also will hear from students and international partners and explore intended and unintended learning outcomes, assessment practices, and research opportunities. GLI participants will receive a $100 stipend and two catered lunches. Participants are expected to work with an international partner during the 2027-28 academic year to implement a COIL project.
Submit your application online today 2027 Global Learning Institute application
For more information visit www.uca.edu/global-learning. Contact Dr. Phillip Bailey at
phillipb@uca.edu