Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

In today’s business world, the ability to collaborate across cultures is a key skill, one that can set students apart as they enter the workforce. Central Michigan University’s Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) program is making this possible by bringing international experiences into the classroom without requiring students to travel.

In the College of Business Administration, COIL allows students to collaborate with peers from institutions in Mexico, Germany, Brazil, and the Philippines without leaving their classrooms. Through COIL, students collaborate on international business cases, sustainability research, and marketing strategies, building critical thinking, communication, and cross-cultural teamwork skills essential for success in a global workplace.

A global classroom experience

The COIL approach provides students with firsthand experience of global business instead of text-based learning. Through virtual meetings and team-based projects, students develop practical skills in navigating cultural differences, coordinating across time zones, and collaborating with international peers.

For Blake Brown – a junior business major from Mount Pleasant, Michigan – COIL provided a structured yet flexible approach to international collaboration. Working with students from Mexico, Brown experienced the challenges of asynchronous communication and cross-cultural teamwork. “I thought we’d have to figure it out on our own, but everything was well-structured, making collaboration smoother,” Brown said.

These experiences give students a valuable advantage as they begin their careers. The growing business demand for employees who can adjust to multiple cultural views along with border communication skills and distributed team experience matches perfectly with COIL's offerings.

Integrating COIL into the curriculum

Educational collaborations between CBA faculty members and instructors at San Pedro College in the Philippines, Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico, and universities in Germany and Brazil have resulted in projects that align with course learning goals and provided practical international experiences.

“COIL allows students to develop a global mindset by collaborating with peers from diverse backgrounds," Yang said. "By working on international projects, students gain firsthand experience navigating cross-cultural communication and global business operations essential skills for international careers.:

COIL projects focus on three key areas: supply chain management, sustainability in global markets, and cross-cultural business ethics. These projects give students hands-on experience in solving real-world challenges. Through these projects students enrich their learning experience by developing both their professional networks and practical experience in multicultural work groups.

Expanding opportunities for global learning

COIL represents one of multiple international learning programs that CMU delivers to produce globally-oriented graduates. COIL provides an accessible alternative to study abroad for students who may not have the opportunity to travel.

CMU is strengthening its international partnerships with universities worldwide to increase the number of global learning opportunities for students across classrooms. Faculty members view COIL as an essential tool that will help establish research collaborations, as well as international study programs and professional networking possibilities for students.

“These projects build lasting connections between universities, faculty, and students," said faculty member Mike Pisani, who leads COIL projects.

Through COIL, CMU students graduate with the skills, confidence, and international experience needed to thrive in an increasingly global job market. For more information about integrating COIL into your classroom as a faculty member or participating in a COIL class as a student, contact Michelle Yang (yang1km@cmich.edu) or Mike Pisani (pisan1mj@cmich.edu).