International COIL Module as Part of the Twinning Collaboration with the University of Lancashire
From January 29 to March 5, UzhNU successfully implemented the international COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) module “Studying Values in International Relations: Global Dialogue” / “Studying Values in International Relations: Global Dialogue,” which took place as part of the Twinning cooperation with the University of Lancashire, Preston (United Kingdom).
The module was integrated into the following courses: Research Methods in International Relations and Politics and Main Foreign Language (English).
The module was taught and coordinated by: Alexandros Koutsoukis – Lecturer in International Relations at the School of Psychology and Humanities, and Antonina Bulyna – Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Linguistics, Faculty of International Economic Relations. On the part of UzhNU, fourth-year students of the “Applied Linguistics” program were involved, and on the part of the University of Lancashire, second-year undergraduate students of the “International Relations” and “History and Politics” programs.
During the module, eight training sessions were held, three of which took place in a synchronous format with the participation of Ukrainian and British students. This format facilitated the direct exchange of ideas and experiences. The module focused on: values in international relations, global dialogue and intercultural understanding, the development of students’ research skills, and the improvement of academic English. In particular, the teaching materials included translated excerpts from Ukrainian fiction, specifically works by Lesya Ukrainka, Oksana Lutsyshyna, and Oles Berdnyk.
Participation in the COIL module contributed to: the development of intercultural competence, the development of critical thinking and analytical skills, a deeper understanding of global processes in the field of international relations, and the practical use of English in an academic setting.
Implementing this format of international learning is an important step in the development of the internationalization of the educational process (internationalization at home), the expansion of academic partnerships, and the integration of students into the global educational space.
The aforementioned COIL module is part of a micro-project implemented as part of the 6th Winter School for Professional Development “Internationalization of Higher Education” organized by the All-Ukrainian Public Organization “Innovative University” 2026.
