Webinar: Virtual Exchange/Collaborative Online International Learning - a practical tool for Education for Sustainable Development
When: 12 November 2025
Time: 2pm-3pm
Where: Microsoft Teams
This webinar – led by TU Dublin and supported by the National Forum for Teaching and Learning – seeks to share practical insights into the use of Virtual Exchanges (VE), which are also known as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL).
Many programmes seek to expand students’ world view and their awareness of global challenges, however in-person exchanges are expensive and have a negative impact on carbon emissions.
Virtual Exchanges (VE) are a useful tool to foster global collaboration and intercultural understanding by connecting students and educators across borders, promoting critical thinking, empathy, and shared problem-solving skills essential for advancing Education for Sustainable Development. VE also offer an opportunity to link in a meaningful manner with students and Universities in the global south.
In this webinar, academics with years of experience of using VE will share their experience of organising and delivering.
The webinar will be opened by Dr Brian Gormley, Head of Sustainability Education in TU Dublin.
Speakers will include:
- Prof Niamh Murphy and Dr Jenny O’Connor, School of Health Sciences and School of Humanities, SETU. Their COIL initiative is called TEACH CoLab and it is with the University of Washington in Seattle.
- Georgina Lawlor, School of Social Sciences, Law and Education, TU Dublin who operates a VE in the module: Advanced Community and Youth Development Practice in collaboration with Langara College, Vancouver
- Una Carthy, Faculty of Law and Humanities, ATU, who will report on a Virtual Exchange involving Universities in Germany and Spain.
- Dr Ciaran O’Carroll, School of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, TU Dublin who has initiated a COIL project with An Najah University in the West Bank, Palestine.
This initiative has been supported by the National Forum for Teaching and Learning and the SATLE fund.
This event will be recorded.
You can find more information and register for this webinar here