Abstract:

COIL@UArctic is a new University of the Arctic thematic network designed to promote and facilitate collaborative online international learning and biodiversity education. COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) is a sustained educational approach where groups or individual students from one institution collaborate with groups or individual students from another institution, in a different country and/or culture, on sustained and assessed projects or assignments, developed collaboratively by tutors from each partner institution. The learning takes place online using freely available and commonly used communication technology. This type of cost-effective, experiential learning promotes intercultural competence, as well as the attitudes and reflective behavioural skills vital for a globalised economy. Students who undertake COIL projects use real-world scenarios to learn how to research global issues, set objectives, coordinate time zones and schedules, complete tasks, and navigate communication, language, and organisational challenges within and between international teams. The COIL@UArctic network is designed to promote unique educational opportunities and higher academic collaboration, enabling more people to harness and contribute to the growing body of knowledge, expertise, networks, and pedagogical advantages COIL offers students and faculty in the post-pandemic, technologically blended educational context. The network's focus on biodiversity education has the potential to provide knowledge for better lives and environments for all UArctic and non-UArctic members. Since October 2023, alongside faculty partners from Eastern Finland, Maine USA, Iceland, Canada, and Scotland; an Indigenous consultant from Alaska has been involved in the design of the thematic network to promote inclusivity in the development process and final deliverables which include an extensive set of web-based resources and training. Students from partner countries were also consulted about their views on COIL pedagogy and the COIL@UArctic network through an online focus group helping to inform the network development. This paper will share the key outcomes and reflections from the experience of seeking to adopt an inclusive approach to the development of a new international educational network.

Keywords:

COIL, Arctic, inclusion.