IMC Fachhochschule Krems GmbH

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Course

COIL aims to provide nursing students with international experiences as part of "internationalization at home" and offers them the opportunity to develop cross-cultural communication skills.

Objectives

COIL is a virtual mobility learning program, with the aim to realize "internationalization at home" in the following way: COIL enables students to work collaboratively on a project with students from university institutions of other countries, to develop intercultural competence as well as an understanding of global health care issues, and thereby gain international experience.

Background

The COIL project is carried out as part of the course "Nursing in an International Context" in the 5th semester of the nursing bachelor's degree program. Students and facilitators in different countries work together on a common health project by use of a virtual communication platform (CANVAS) and digital tools (e.g. WhatsApp). Participating international universities are currently (2022) the University of Padua (Italy), Western Norway University of Applied Sciences Campus Stord (Norway), Viseu Higher School of Health (Portugal), Adventist University Zurcher (Madagascar) and The Chicago School of Professional Psycholgy - College of Nursing and Advanced Health Professions (via TCS Education System, USA).

(Implemented) Activities

Four-week online program with synchronous and asynchronous group discussions on a variety of health care topics such as Ambient Assisted Living, Global Child Health, Global Health and Aging, Global Burden of Diseases, Access to Health Services, Shortage of Health Personnel Post-Pandemic, a.s.o. For this, the participating students are divided into groups of 6 to 8 persons each. Each group works on and discusses a health care topic and is supervised by a facilitator. The group assignments include literature research, synchronous and asynchronous discussions, and preparation of a joint poster for the final presentation.

Results

COIL enable students to develop cross-cultural and intercultural sensitive communication competences. In this form of “internationalization at home” students can bring each other’s worlds into the classroom. Students obtain information and exchange ideas about international health care systems, common or different international nursing issues, and gain knowledge about health care services in different countries. Thus, they develop an understanding of different perspectives and worldviews in health care/nursing.

Lessons learned

Nursing students benefit from international collaboration in addressing global health issues. During the implementation of COIL, it was found that COIL requires vigorous logistical support, awareness of students’ needs to achieve curriculum alignment, and to facilitate effective student engagement. The COIL project can be improved by mandatory participation for all students and by having more scheduled synchronous meetings with facilitators.

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