Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) is an educational methodology focused on fostering online intercultural learning experiences within universities in different countries. MSU’s Center for Global Learning and Innovation, Alliance for African Partnership (AAP), and African Studies Center (ASC) anticipate welcoming to the third cohort of the COIL Faculty Fellows Program-Africa a mix of bilateral and trilateral COIL projects. Prior experience in COIL is not required; faculty from any discipline are welcome!
- Track 1 - Bilateral COIL Projects:
- Track 2 - Trilateral COIL Projects:
Notes:
Regardless of the track chosen, each individual part of a team must already have an existing academic course in mind to be "COILed;" this means a course that they are teaching at their own institution in 2026 which can be slightly restructured or modified to incorporate the COIL project. The courses do not need to be in the same field of study, nor do the instructors need to be affiliated with similar academic colleges.
Since the COIL project will connect two or three different classrooms, it's important that all academic courses are running at their own institutions around the same time so students can collaborate with one another. Options of timeframes for this call for fellows are:
While the COIL project will be defined by each team of faculty fellows during the fellowship program, applicants should plan for COIL projects (3-6 weeks long) that focus on providing an intercultural exchange through collaborative activities across institutions, and that focus on one or more AAP priority areas.
In addition to the honoraria mentioned above, faculty fellows will receive extensive COIL training, which is currently estimated to cost at least US$250 for similar training taken directly through external partners. The program also includes opportunities for further engagement through an online fellows' community of practice, connections with appointed COIL campus coordinators, and a future COIL symposium.
During the 5-week COIL training (October 6 to November 7, 2025), teams are expected to work on their COIL projects through a mix of asynchronous and synchronous activities.
Notes:
Interested individuals must apply as a team according to the two possible tracks mentioned above. Since partnering must occur PRIOR to submitting a team application, individuals in search of a teammate can submit an interest form (see details below).
- Individual Interest Form:
Note: Submitting the individual interest form does not guarantee that you will find a teammate. We are merely the bridge: you are responsible for contacting potential teammates and collaborating with them in preparation for your team application submission.
- Team Application Form:
Note: specifics about the COIL project will be defined by each team during the fellowship program; this is merely an initial brainstorming idea.
Chosen teams will be notified at the end of the 1st COIL Symposium (Friday, September 19, 2025). Please be aware that selection preference will be given based on distribution across institutions, breadth of disciplines across applicants, and relevance to advancing program goals.
In case of questions, please make sure to carefully review the Call for Fellows (above) and check out both the Info Session Webinar recording and associated FAQ (below) - your question might already have been answered there. Due to the high volume of inquiries we are currently experiencing, if you still have questions please email . We will reply to your email as soon as possible. Thank you for your understanding!
We kicked off the third cohort of our fellowship program with an Info Session Webinar on Friday July 11 (8-9am Eastern Time). The video recording and FAQ of this event can be found below.
- Are there any COIL programs that include in-person activities, for example, faculty visits to their partners' universities to give seminars or lectures?
While we have heard about different COIL programs supporting faculty travel, due to our limited budget, our call for fellows does not intend to include such an approach. That being said, if opportunities arise, we will share those with our faculty COIL fellows.
- Should the COIL course be registered at its own university?
For a COIL project to exist, it must be embedded within two (or more) academic courses; those courses must be registered at their own institutions as academic courses to be taught by each faculty at that institution (e.g., each faculty is the instructor of record for their own course at their own institution; COIL is simply a bridge connecting the classrooms virtually). As a reminder, the courses do not need to be in the same field of study, nor do the instructors need to be affiliated with similar academic colleges.
- How to select student participants for a COIL project?
Since the COIL project is embedded within two (or more) academic courses, only students enrolled in those academic courses will participate in the COIL project. If you are interested in including student participants outside of those enrolled in your academic course, you are responsible for discussing this topic with your COIL partner and abiding by the regulations of all involved institutions.
- Is COIL available for any year of study (undergrad to postgrad)? Do the courses have to be of the same level?
COIL projects can exist within any year/level of study, and the levels don't need to be the same for the COIL project to be successful.
- How much of the semester course needs to be COIL-focused? How does COIL plan to integrate AI? Will some kind of ethical clearance be required before the students can connect for collaborative activities?
These are all aspects that the faculty team will need to discuss prior to the implementation of their COIL project, since the answers to those questions will vary depending on their specific contexts, personal preferences, regulations at their own institutions, etc. That being said, faculty teams should plan for COIL projects that are 3-6 weeks long, that focus on providing an intercultural exchange through collaborative activities across institutions, and that focus on one or more AAP priority areas.
- How to overcome (or limit) problems related to lack of connectivity?
Faculty teams should intentionally design their COIL projects as to also include asynchronous activities and a "plan B" in case there are issues with connectivity during synchronous activities. This topic is one example of covered topics during the COIL training that all faculty fellows are required to go through.
- Can individuals from institutions outside of the AAP Consortium be considered as COIL partners? What about other institutions that are not listed on the call?
All applications and expressions of interest will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, and the selection committee is willing to consider teams outside of the parameters indicated in the call for fellows.
- How many team members must be included?
For bilateral COIL projects, one MSU faculty and one African faculty (according to the information available in the call for fellows above); for trilateral COIL projects, one MSU faculty, one African faculty, and one HBCU faculty (according to the information available in the call for fellows above).
- For a trilateral project, can one MSU faculty and two African faculty from two separate universities be considered?
Trilateral COIL projects must include one MSU faculty, one African faculty, and one HBCU faculty, according to the information available in the call for fellows above.
- What kinds of projects are to be accepted?
While the COIL project will be defined by each team of faculty fellows during the fellowship program, applicants should plan for COIL projects (3-6 weeks long) that focus on providing an intercultural exchange through collaborative activities across institutions, and that focus on one or more AAP priority areas.
- Would mental health or GBV fall under one of the AAP Priority areas?
Both can fit within "Health and Nutrition;" GBV can also fit within "Culture and Society."
- Within the individual interest form, will one be able to submit multiple courses? Can adjunct faculty submit an individual interest form?
Faculty is being defined as "an individual who holds a higher-education teaching position – e.g., professor, lecturer, academic staff with teaching appointments, etc." There is no limitation in terms of how many different courses can be submitted through the individual interest form, as long as this person is the instructor of record teaching all of the courses, all of the courses are scheduled to run in 2026, and all of the courses can be adapted/modified to incorporate a COIL project. Additionally, please note that an individual's decision to take part in this fellowship program should be made in consultation with their department chair and/or work supervisor.
- If one submits an individual interest form and finds a teammate, would this team have to submit a team application?
Yes, all teams must submit a team application regardless of how the teams were formed.
- Is there a platform to search and match with faculty from participating universities?
Such a platform does not exist yet, but the coordinating team will assist individuals interested in this program who are in search of a teammate.
- Is the position of a COIL Campus Coordinator necessary for institutions with only 1-3 faculty participants?
Planning for a COIL Campus coordinator is not necessary for a team to be selected; however, this is a good opportunity for institutions to not be able to assist selected teams but also to build capacity for future COIL activities.
- Should one of the academics no longer be able to take part, will the remaining academic be able to continue (e.g., with a new partner) or would they have to re-apply for the next cohort?
Circumstances such as this that are beyond our control will be handled on a case-by-case basis by the program team. While our goal will be to find a solution, in rare instances it may not be possible for the COIL project to continue. In those cases, any existing alternatives will be discussed with the remaining academic.
Cohort 3: Open Call for Fellows
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