2025 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

The Miniature Guide for COIL Educators in Engineering

Presented at Graduate Education, Artificial Intelligence

Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) represents a transformative approach to education, fostering global engagement and cross-cultural exchange through online platforms. The COIL approach is relevant for engineering educators as it facilitates cross-cultural collaboration and problem-solving. It enables students to work on global engineering projects and gain diverse perspectives essential for sustainable and innovative engineering solutions in Industry 4.0 and beyond. This paper presents a practical guide to support engineering educators in effectively implementing COIL methodologies. The study begins with an overview of COIL, emphasizing its role in enhancing intercultural competencies and global awareness among engineering students. Drawing on over a decade of experience applying the COIL approach, the authors have participated in numerous projects between LATAM and Europe, enriching their insights into effective cross-regional collaboration and educational innovation. One of the most important findings is that, despite its potential, engineering educators often face challenges executing COIL programs due to a lack of structured guidance and resources. This study addresses these gaps by introducing a concise, user-friendly guide tailored to engineering educators' needs. The methodology involves analyzing 20 case studies and pilot programs to identify key obstacles and solutions. These real-world applications illustrate the guide's principles, providing concrete examples of successful COIL implementation. Common challenges, such as technological barriers and cultural misunderstandings, are explored, and practical solutions are proposed to equip educators with the tools needed to overcome these difficulties. The guide's development is detailed, outlining its structure and content. It is organized into sections covering essential strategies and best practices, including course design, curriculum integration and alignment with learning outcomes, identifying partners, building relationships with international institutions, establishing effective collaboration techniques, and fostering meaningful cultural exchanges. It offers actionable tips for educators to enhance student engagement and ensure the sustainability of COIL initiatives. The guide is valuable for educators seeking to integrate COIL into their curricula. Providing clear, practical guidance empowers the global community of engineering educators to create enriching, culturally immersive online learning experiences. The impact of this guide extends beyond immediate classroom benefits, fostering a generation of students equipped with the skills and perspectives necessary for the future workforce.

Authors

Dr. Patricia Caratozzolo http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7488-6703 Tecnologico de Monterrey [biography]

Patricia Caratozzolo received the Ph.D. degree from the Universitat Politécnica de Catalunya, Barcelona. She is She is Full Member of the Institute for the Future of Education and Assistant Professor at Tecnologico de Monterrey, Mexico. She leads projects in the area of Educational Innovation, Critical Thinking, Cognitive Flexibility, and development of Social Oriented Interdisciplinary Skills in STEAM. Dr. Caratozzolo is Senior Member of IEEE, Member of the Executive Committee of the Mexican Chapter of the Organization of Women in Sciences for the Developing World (OWSD), Member of the National System of Researchers (SNI) of the Mexican Council of Educational Research (CONACYT), and Vice President of the International Association of Continuing Engineering Education (IACEE).
Vianney Lara-Prieto Tecnologico de Monterrey (ITESM) [biography]

Vianney Lara graduated as Mechatronics Engineer from Tecnologico de Monterrey, Monterrey Campus and holds a PhD in Smart Materials from Loughborough University in the UK. She worked in GE Healthcare as Manufacturing Process Engineer and Advanced Projects Engineer for Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment. She joined Tecnologico de Monterrey as Program Head for the Mechatronics Engineering Program. Then, she was Academic Projects Director, Division Director, and her current role is National Head of Higher Education of the School of Engineering and Sciences.

Vianney belongs to the executive committee of the Matilda Latin American Chair for Women in Engineering and belongs to the mentoring and research groups. She belongs to the LACCEI executive board as VP of Initiatives. She is a founding member of Ingenia Women in Engineering and Sciences participating in the linkage, mentoring and dissemination committees. Vianney belongs to the OWSD Mexico´s Chapter executive board. She is an IEEE, WIE (Women in Engineering) and IEEE-HKN member. Vianney is a CB Coach certified by the Conscious Business Center.

She belongs to the National System of Researchers (SNI). Her research lines are Challenge-Based Learning, Educational Innovation in Engineering, Interdisciplinary STEM Education, and Women in STEM. She is an adjoint member of the SOI – STEM Socially Oriented Interdisciplinary STEM Education Research Group at the Institute for the Future of Education.
Rebeca García Tecnologico de Monterrey (ITESM)
Dr. Jorge Membrillo-Hernández Tecnologico De Monterrey
Maria Ileana Ruiz-Cantisani http://orcid.org/https://0000-0002-8467-3178 Tecnologico de Monterrey (ITESM) [biography]

Maria Ileana Ruiz-Cantisani has a PhD in Educational Innovation and Master of Science in Engineering with specialization in Systems and Quality, and Industrial Engineer. She is Associate Professor at the School of Engineering and Sciences, and professor in Capstone Courses on industrial engineering. She leads projects in the areas of educational innovation , virtual reality and student engagement, active learning and women in stem. She is member of Catedra Abierta Latinoaméricana Matilda ( as member of the board that leads the chair, ), and leader of Women in STEM Committee of the Latin American and Caribbean Consortium of Engineering Institutions (LACCEI). She is member of Ingenia, Women in Engineering and Sciences of the School of Engineering and Science. Ileana is Director of Liaison and Educational Partners of the School of Engineering and Sciences of Tecnologico de Monterrey
Valentina Rueda-Castro Tecnologico de Monterrey (ITESM)

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