Arqus Global Connect is an international, collaborative learning initiative based on the COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) methodology. It aims to promote curriculum internationalisation and intercultural academic collaboration. Four European universities are involved: Wrocław (Poland), Vilnius (Lithuania), Minho (Portugal) and Granada (Spain). The project runs from 30 November to 30 July.
The first phase focused on planning and training, including 20 interviews with academic and administrative staff to assess previous internationalisation experiences. Training on COIL was delivered through six synchronous sessions and one month of asynchronous activities, with contributions from international experts such as Eva Haug, Jon Rubin, and Marcela Maldonado. As a result, five international teams were formed.
In the second phase, five COIL proposals were developed, with two being implemented. The active groups were Group A (Vilnius + Minho) and Group B (Wrocław + Granada). Implementation challenges included academic calendar mismatches and low student enrolment.
The most notable case was Group A’s project, Climate Diplomacy & Sustainability Policy, led by academics from Minho and Vilnius. A total of 24 students took part, researching climate policies, analysing data, and presenting their findings through videos such as Green House, Active Diplomats, and No Planet B.
The final phase took place in June, with a reflection meeting and roadmap development. The initiative was also presented at the XVIII National and XI Ibero-American Congress on Pedagogy in Seville. The expected impact includes strengthening academic cooperation within the Arqus Alliance, sharing best practices in curriculum internationalisation, and reinforcing academic and administrative networks across European higher education institutions.
