Another successful COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) project has concluded at Khmelnytskyi National University (KhNU), in partnership with the University of South Florida (USF). Vice-Rector Kateryna Skyba spearheaded the initiative. The idea was born during a working meeting in April 2024 between Associate Professor Yuliia Davyduk and American colleagues Dr. Michelle Bombaugh and K.C. Kircher. The meeting focused on faculty mobility and internationalisation strategies for the Department of Germanic Philology and Translation Studies. It was then proposed that a COIL module based on the “Communication Strategies” course be developed to align with the department’s academic programs.
The collaboration was enthusiastically received. The course was planned for the Fall 2024–2025 academic semester (starting in September 2024), and contact was established between instructors from both institutions. Over the spring and summer, Associate Professor Yuliia Davyduk and Dr. Michelle Bombaugh held more than six online planning sessions, ultimately designing a course titled “Advising and Helping Skills in Student Affairs.”
The project, which ran from September 16 to November 4, 2024, involved 25 students from both Ukraine and the United States. In the first week, graduate students from the University of South Florida and second-year students from group FPA-23-1 at KhNU met on Zoom to get to know each other and discuss their upcoming collaboration.
Professors Davyduk and Bombaugh introduced the course syllabus and outlined the tasks to be completed during the 8-week program. Activities included working in small, mixed-nationality groups of up to five participants (two students from Ukraine and three from the U.S.). These groups were asked to:
- Introduce themselves through a “Cultural Show and Tell Icebreaker”
- Discuss future research topics
- Decide on a team name and create a group logo.
As a result of this teamwork, five student groups emerged, each with its own name, logo, and research topic aligned with the course theme.
In the following weeks, students worked collaboratively on their chosen subtopics within “Advising and Helping Skills in Student Affairs.” Their final projects were presented using Canva in the form of digital presentations and handouts.
The project received highly positive feedback from participants. Both students and instructors from Ukraine and the United States praised the COIL model for its potential to transcend educational boundaries, particularly significant in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Upon completion of the program, Khmelnytskyi National University students were awarded certificates recognising their achievements. These certificates not only reflect academic accomplishment but also represent a valuable asset in their professional portfolios.
Dr. Michelle Bombaugh, representing the American partner university, joined the virtual certificate ceremony. She emphasised that the project provided meaningful experience for all involved, not only through knowledge gained, but through its practical application in an intercultural environment. She commended the students’ high level of preparation and active engagement in the international learning space and expressed hope for continued collaboration and joint initiatives between the two universities.
Khmelnytskyi National University has long maintained active cooperation with American academic partners, implementing joint educational and research initiatives. This collaboration provides students with access to modern teaching methodologies, international experience, and new academic opportunities.
We are grateful to everyone who contributed to building this “international bridge” of cooperation. Khmelnytskyi National University will continue to strengthen its partnerships with American colleagues and expand opportunities for students. We firmly believe that education knows no borders, and international collaboration opens new horizons. Together, we are building a future where knowledge, experience, and friendship overcome any challenge.