Dallas College is working to become a globally engaged higher education institution. Early reactions to this initiative from faculty and students have been overwhelmingly positive.
Through the Office of International Engagement and Global Competitiveness (IEGC), the college started offering what is known as COIL — collaborative online international learning — opportunities in the Fall semester. The program is expanding its efforts in the Spring.
“It’s been very well received,” said Diana Urrutia, Dallas College’s vice provost of IEGC. “It’s essential for faculty and students to engage globally. These broaden their horizons, enhance intercultural understanding and help them thrive in a globalized world.”
Examples of COIL being incorporated into classroom settings include engagements with universities in Colombia, Mexico and Costa Rica. These opportunities help faculty stay informed about developments in their fields across cultures. They also provide insights for students who seek international learning opportunities.
English professor Rachel Key has been part of the COIL initiative since its launch and sees numerous benefits for all.
“These experiences help professors think more globally when considering how to present concepts to different student audiences and allow professors to focus on connections and similarities between cultures, rather than only the differences, which can often be what people first notice,” Key said. “The COIL partnerships also promote collegiality and allow for discussions about education across the globe.”
Key went on to say that students have enjoyed the international aspects of learning in her classroom and beyond.
“Though the lessons and learning experiences are important, the relationships that our students build with the other students at partner institutions are invaluable,” she said. “Many of them have stayed in touch with their international classmates well after the class ended. So, they wind up with new friendships. This allows them to continue to organically learn about other cultures and countries.”
Looking Ahead
COIL is just one avenue that IEGC is using to enhance the student experience from a global perspective. There have also been study abroad and in-country global learning, and these offerings have enhanced the educational experience.
As part of Dallas College’s 2030 vision, the goal is to provide even more students with globally-minded learning experiences. COIL provides a cost-effective and impactful pathway to do so.
“While we’d love for all students to have a study abroad experience, COIL provides a way for the masses to engage virtually by bringing the world into our classrooms and online environments,” Urrutia said. “COIL fosters student-to-student and faculty-to-faculty connections. It’s a reciprocal learning opportunity, too. Students and faculty abroad also learn about what’s happening in the discipline while remaining in the home country.”
Final Word
At the end of the day, as the world becomes even more interconnected across cultures, having a global understanding and perspective is important.
Urrutia summed it up perfectly, saying: “Whether it’s COIL, study abroad, internships or other global citizenship programs, these opportunities help students build skills and confidence.
“When they enter the workforce or transfer to a university, they will know which questions to ask and how to engage globally. This is about Dallas College being the starting point for their global engagement journey.”
For more information about COIL, please email IEGC@DallasCollege.edu.
