Abstract:

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects are crucial for students' future professional lives as they cultivate essential skills such as intercultural competence, digital literacy, and global collaboration. By engaging in cross-border teamwork and problem-solving, students gain firsthand experience in navigating diverse cultural perspectives and working effectively in virtual environments, which are increasingly common in today's globalized workforce. These projects are instrumental in developing students' digital skills by immersing them in technology-driven collaborative environments. By taking part in these projects, students use various digital tools and platforms for communication, project management, and content creation, enhancing their proficiency in using technology for professional purposes. They learn to navigate and engage in virtual meeting software, collaborative document editing tools, and digital presentation applications, which are essential in today's work places. This hands-on experience not only boosts their technical capabilities but also improves their ability to work remotely and adapt to new digital innovations, making them more versatile and competent in their future careers.

Furthermore, being set within an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course, taking part in a COIL project allows students to develop their language skills in a context directly relevant to their field of study. By collaborating with international peers on subject-specific tasks, students practice and enhance their technical vocabulary, professional communication, and comprehension skills in English. This targeted language use helps them gain fluency and confidence in discussing specialized topics, preparing them for real-world professional interactions where English is often the global language of communication. The authentic, task-based nature of COIL projects ensures that students not only improve their general language proficiency but also become adept at using English effectively within their specific disciplines.

This paper outlines the design of a didactic approach for an English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course offered by a Portuguese higher education institution, which aimed at developing students' online collaboration skills under the topic of Artificial Intelligence within the workplace. The course enabled students to work with international peers on AI-related tasks, enhancing their technical and language skills. This innovative approach ensured that students not only reflected on their experiences with AI applications but also improved their digital literacy and professional English communication, preparing them for the demands of a globalized and technologically advanced workplace.

Data were collected at the end of the semester, through students´ final reports. Within the framework of a qualitative approach, this case study adopted an interpretative and interactive content analysis.

The analysis of data collected shows that the development of international teamwork and communication competencies was recognized as a significant strength, enhancing students' ability to work effectively in diverse, global contexts in the future. However, weaknesses such as time management and teamwork challenges were identified, indicating areas needing improvement for more effective collaboration.

Keywords:

Course Design, English for Specific Purposes, Collaborative Online International Learning.