UDP Internacional

Monday December 15th, 2025

During the second semester of 2025, and with the support of the General Directorate of International Relations (DGRRII), five UDP academics developed projects based on the COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) methodology.

These initiatives were carried out to foster internationalization experiences in synergy with foreign academic institutions. The faculty members involved were: Alejandro Rossi, who worked alongside University College Cork (Ireland); María Ángela Cifuentes, linked with the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador; Paulina Morales, who participated with the Francisco Morazán National Pedagogical University (Honduras); Scarlet Elgueta, who collaborated with Universidad del Norte (Colombia); and Javiera Peña, whose project partnered with the University of Buenos Aires (Argentina).

Carlos Ahumada, Coordinator of International Cooperation and Global Formation, indicated that since 2022, the University—through the DGRRII, the Directorate of Teaching Development, and the Office of the Academic Vice President—has led various training sessions to introduce the COIL methodology to the faculty.

Consequently, he noted, the Internationalization of Learning Processes Fund (FIPA) – COIL was launched in 2023. Its objective is to promote the transversal incorporation of international, intercultural, and global dimensions into curricular programs. “This fund expands ‘Internationalization at Home’ opportunities for students who cannot participate in physical mobility, offering them the chance to interact with students from other countries, collaborate on joint tasks, and strengthen their intercultural competencies,” Ahumada commented.

The implementation of COIL projects has been positively evaluated by the university community, primarily because it has allowed for the integration of an international dimension into subjects and has driven permanent innovation in course design.

Perspectives from the Faculty

Alejandro Rossi, who taught the General Education Course (CFG) Indigenous Populations, developed a project to establish dialogue on the importance of recognizing multiple cultural perspectives regarding linguistic practices and their relationship to decolonization studies. He described the experience as enriching, as it allowed for “understanding the working logics of other parts of the world, recognizing similarities and differences” to ultimately “adapt and collaborate in diverse learning and work contexts.”

Professor María Ángela Cifuentes conducted a COIL project on recent history through photography and memory exercises. She noted that the experience allowed students to encounter new realities and develop critical thinking skills. “The project focused on shared dialogue between groups from two universities with different majors to achieve an exchange of opinions on shared problems,” she explained.

Professor Scarlet Elgueta, whose COIL project focused on bringing Astronomy closer to students, indicated that the activity encouraged students to “discover that the southern hemisphere sky unites them.” She reflected that “COIL programs represent a window to explore scenarios that are no longer unfeasible, such as studying a semester abroad or considering a postgraduate degree outside the country.”

A Global Pedagogical Strategy

The COIL methodology is a pedagogical strategy that allows students and professors from different parts of the world to collaborate on joint projects through virtual platforms. Popularized by the State University of New York (SUNY), this methodology has gained ground globally due to its ability to foster intercultural learning without the need for physical mobility.

At UDP, COIL projects are a key methodology for the Global Formation strategic axis. They aim to contribute to the development of transversal, intercultural, and global competencies for a diverse and multicultural professional future, whether in Chile or abroad.