From Pilot to Practice: Building Faculty Capacity for Sustainable COIL Implementation

Abstract Book of the 11th International Conference on Teaching, Learning and Education

Year: 2026

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From Pilot to Practice: Building Faculty Capacity for Sustainable COIL Implementation

Ilze Faucette

ABSTRACT:

As institutions seek to expand access to global learning opportunities, Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) offers a powerful and equitable alternative to traditional study abroad. Yet the success of COIL depends not only on faculty interest, but on the professional development structures that help educators move from curiosity to confident implementation.
This session shares the Community College of Philadelphia’s faculty development approach to scaling COIL across disciplines and modalities. Beginning with a single faculty champion, CCP developed a scaffolded ecosystem of workshops, cohort-based learning experiences, self-paced training, mentoring, partner-matching support, and just-in-time resources that enabled growth from three course sections serving approximately 100 students to twenty sections reaching nearly 500 students annually. Participants will explore how intentional professional development can reduce barriers to participation, foster faculty confidence in international collaboration, and create sustainable pathways for institutional growth.
Rather than focusing solely on classroom projects, this presentation highlights the behind-the-scenes work of building a culture of global engagement through faculty learning. Attendees will examine strategies for introducing COIL to skeptical or time-constrained faculty, supporting first-time practitioners, leveraging communities of practice, and creating scalable models that balance innovation with institutional realities.
Participants will leave with practical ideas, adaptable resources, and a framework for developing faculty-centered COIL initiatives that expand access to global learning while strengthening teaching, collaboration, and professional growth.

Keywords: Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), Professional Development (PD)