Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) for Information Systems Education: Best Practices and Implementation Strategies

Abstract

We explore the importance of online collaboration, cross-cultural understanding, and intercultural competence in today’s workplace, highlighting the need for Information Systems (IS) educators to integrate Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) into their curricula. COIL offers numerous benefits by providing students with opportunities for joint projects and intercultural experiences including a global perspective, cross-cultural collaboration, exposure to innovative practices, global networking, intercultural competence development, and real-world application. Drawing on our own experiences, we present insights into recommended practices and potential pitfalls associated with COIL. Our goal is to empower IS educators to prepare students for the demands of a globalized workforce, cultivating a global mindset, cross-cultural collaboration skills, and intercultural competence in their field.