Collaborative Online International Learning - Global Affairs
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Collaborative Online International Learning
Collaborative Online International Learning
COIL connects Carolina faculty and students with classrooms around the world to enhance student learning.
Carolina faculty are committed to collaborative teaching and learning with international institutions, and UNC Global Affairs provides funding, resources and professional development for these instructors, as well as a community of experts.
Through COIL, or Collaborative Online International Learning, instructors co-design assignments for Tar Heels to complete virtually with students attending a university outside the U.S. Some faculty have introduced COIL Plus courses, which include virtual collaboration in an on-campus course plus travel for in-person collaboration with the COIL partners.
Since 2020, UNC Global Affairs has helped faculty introduce the COIL method into almost 100 courses at Carolina. Faculty from across the university now teach 50+ COIL courses enrolling some 1,000 students each year. COIL courses help the university achieve the Global Guarantee, Carolina’s promise that a global education is available to every student. The COIL method has been adopted by universities worldwide and is widely regarded as a high-impact learning experience that contributes to student success.
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Funding for COIL at Carolina
UNC Global Affairs offers a robust support system and funding for COIL implementation. Instructors at UNC-Chapel Hill can apply for a Curriculum Development Award to incorporate COIL into new and existing courses. This award offers additional funding for graduate student support. Once instructors have implemented COIL, they are eligible for repeat funding and professional development awards.
Read more about COIL funding →
UNC Global Affairs also provides access to relevant educational technology tools and hosts COIL workshops, some of which are led by COIL Fellows. COIL Fellows are experienced Carolina COIL instructors and experts in course design who support prospective and current COIL instructors.
Meet the COIL Fellows
COIL courses at Carolina
Carolina COIL experiences have included the following:
Examples coming soon!
Read more about COIL
October 15, 2025
COIL facilitates global connections, preparing students to tackle global challenges
July 2, 2025
Tar Heels tackle global sustainability challenges with students from Malaysia, Japan
February 18, 2025
School of Nursing expands COIL with $300,000 grant from Norwegian government
For more information about COIL, email
Sharmila Udyavar
associate director for global education, at
sharmila_udyavar@unc.edu