ICT for Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL): A Case of an Educational Institute

Information and communication Technology (ICT) has removed the physical barriers in different sectors, including education. As a result, Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) has been gaining significant importance over the years as a means to provide international exposure/ experience to a larger number of students. In planning and executing COIL, it is important to be aware of the challenges it brings along, which are directly related to the degree of diversity between the two institutes. This paper outlines the bottlenecks in COIL and their possible solutions. Thereby making an important contribution by discussing how the COIL bottlenecks (Academic, Cultural, Demographic, Time, and Language – ACDTL) could be overcome by using various ICT tools. The methodology used is the case and experience of a BBA Institute where COIL has become a regular practice. Finally, the paper adds to the literature by developing a general model showing how ICT tools can be leveraged to overcome the ACDTL bottlenecks effectively and lead to a more enhanced COIL experience.