On March 22nd, Kansai University's IIGE/JIGE team engaged in a dialogue session with The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS) in the Netherlands, focusing on virtual exchange and Collaborative Online International Learning (VE/COIL). Held on the ClassDo platform, the session titled "Deep Planning and Value Finding in Virtual Exchange/COIL Practices in International Education," allowed both parties to share insights into the current status of VE/COIL at their respective universities, discussing best practices and challenges.

 

The session began with Professor Keiko Ikeda from Kansai University providing an overview of their VE/COIL programs, including new initiatives under the JIGE project aimed at enhancing the societal impacts of these programs. She discussed integration strategies with Internationalization at Home. IIGE coordinators Rob Kuipers and Mariya Byvakina further elaborated on the diverse VE/COIL programs at Kansai University.

 

Representatives from THUAS, including Reinout Klamer, Jos Beelen, Jackie van Marle, Jerke Verschoor, and Heleen Geer, shared their experiences with VE/COIL and the broader context of internationalization at their university. They highlighted THUAS's educational visions, policies, and programs supporting and sustaining VE/COIL initiatives, emphasizing the importance of collaboration with various stakeholders and researching outcomes to enhance program design.

 

Following the presentations, participants split into thematic breakout sessions. The first session focused on sharing best practices for VE/COIL, exploring how both institutions have used these programs to foster beyond-surface learning and social awareness among students. The second session allowed participants to exchange experiences related to researching VE/COIL and to discuss effective methods for assessing learning outcomes.

 

Attendees from THUAS included Reinout Klamer, Jos Beelen, Jackie van Marle, Jerke Verschoor, and Heleen Geer. From Kansai University, participants were Keiko Ikeda, Sajjad Pouromid, Andrew Sowter, Kinnosuke Manabe, Rob Kuipers, and Mariya Byvakina.