News
Wednesday November 26th, 2025
In early November, Professor Daniel Carrasco from the UDP School of Advertising traveled to the United States for an intensive agenda with executives, faculty, and students at American University. His objective? To present the extensive work developed with the North American institution through a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project.
The COIL methodology aims to democratize and mainstream internationalization for university students. “It was very enriching,” says Professor Carrasco regarding this experience, noting that the visit is the result of an initiative that began in 2023. At that time, with the support of the General Directorate of International Relations (DGRRII), he designed a formative activity alongside American University professors Lilian Baeza and Gorky Cruz. The project allowed UDP students to share cultural elements with their U.S. peers through hand-written letters and virtual dialogues.
The academic explains that the first COIL experience was highly positive, as it allowed students to broaden their cultural horizons and apply that knowledge to brand storytelling. Simultaneously, American University students strengthened their Spanish and discovered new elements of Chilean identity.
“For them, the letter was incredibly powerful because many students had never written one before. We had to create a template, and then something very strong began to emerge—pure affection. Students would ask me if they could send something extra: a keychain or a sticker from Chile. It all turned out exceptionally well,” the professor comments.
In 2024, the initiative evolved with the creation of a digital platform where students could work autonomously and share their daily lives through photos and videos, similar to a social network. This consolidated the bonds and created a vibrant cultural exchange between both groups.
For Professor Carrasco, these COIL projects generated a substantive change in the student body. According to his data, at the beginning of the course, only 37% of Chilean students were open to interacting with culturally different people. After the latest COIL, that figure grew to 50%.
“I see an interesting shift here,” he says. “That is what I went to share in Washington: in an increasingly polarized and complex world, what are we going to do? Do we return to the Middle Ages and live in our own small corners, or do we step up to foster this type of behavior?”
He adds: “This is a deeply rewarding experience that fosters a collaborative spirit and makes the brain more plastic rather than rigid. We aren’t just addressing the discipline of advertising; we are developing individuals—professionals who are better prepared to adapt to different realities and worlds.”
The trip to the United States was made possible by the Internationalization of Learning Processes Fund (FIPA). Professor Carrasco emphasized the support received from the DGRRII during the design and execution phases. He notes that these instances are as enriching for faculty as they are for students: “Designing a teaching experience from a different perspective with various variables is demanding. The challenge goes a step beyond the discipline… it allows us to be more creative.”
Following his visit, the professor notes that there is significant interest at American University to continue developing COIL initiatives. He believes it is now relevant to develop interdisciplinary proposals to address societal problems.
“The idea is to keep doing this COIL and, ideally, add more people. I would love to create a COIL involving people from Chile, Washington, Uruguay, or Mexico—expanding it from a two-institution partnership to a three-institution collaboration with diverse cultures,” he concluded.
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