About Us

The project aims to ensure equitable access to international opportunities by establishing a programme of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects for students who cannot usually participate in extended international study.

This will be achieved through purpose-driven collaboration in Southeast Asia based around three themes: Healthy Lives, Sustainable Environments and Just Societies working with partners from Southeast Asia and Scotland’s Social Enterprise Academy.

The project envisages online preparatory workshops, a visit by a SE Asia delegation, a site visit to Vietnam by GCU academic/professional staff and representatives in Social Enterprise Academy, culminating in an event attended by ASEAN HEIs including the other five regional partners.

The project will have eleven objectives:

1. Develop online research, innovation and teaching resources for under-served communities both in Scotland and in Southeast Asia especially in the fields of Healthy Lives, Sustainable Environments and Just Societies

2. Strengthen and widen the successful partnerships and networks developed through previous projects under Erasmus+ and British Council initiatives.

3. Create international learning activities accessible to all students, eliminating the barriers posed by physical travel restrictions and financial challenges.

4. Mitigate against the climate impact of travel by creating alternative avenues towards an international experience

5. Facilitating Academic Collaboration between GCU and SEA partners, developing successful and inspiring Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects and other online initiatives.

6. Enhancing Intercultural Competence: Students and staff will develop vital intercultural skills and gain exposure to diverse cultural perspectives, enhancing their preparedness for careers that contribute to Scotland’s growing economy. This includes adaptability in unexpected situations and effective collaboration with stakeholders from different cultures.

7. Inline with Scotland Entrepreneurial Campus strategy, fostering Entrepreneurial Thinking: Academics will establish COIL projects that allow students to explore business ventures, including public services, and contemplate how lessons from international partners can drive positive change within communities. Helping to build the skills needed to support a growing Scottish economy.

8. Alignwith Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): COIL and other online programmes will be developed in accordance with the SDGs, encouraging  students to work on projects based on the three themes – Healthy Lives, Sustainable Environments and Just Societies – addressing issues such as climate change, reducing inequalities, and promoting fair consumption.

9. Creatinga Resource Toolkit: The initial online workshops will form the basis for academics to create a comprehensive toolkit. This toolkit will be shared with other educators across GCU and SEA, facilitating the integration of COIL projects into their modules.

10. Ultimately, the project will lead to Universal Integration of COIL: Over the next three years, the project aims to integrate COIL projects into all academic programs of study within the Glasgow Caledonian.

11. This initiative will provide all students with a mandatory virtual mobility experience, enriching their graduate profile and global awareness.