By Marina Falasca, STAR Country Director for Argentina
From March 8 to April 5, 2025, STAR Argentina, in collaboration with STAR Spain and STAR Mexico, spearheaded a powerful professional development initiative aimed at reshaping the landscape of international education. Titled “COIL en Clave ODS para la Educación Superior en Iberoamérica,” the program empowered higher education professionals from 6 countries across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain to become trailblazers in Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), with a sharp focus on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Designed for Impact, Driven by Purpose
Over the course of five weeks, this fully online training blended dynamic live Zoom sessions with thoughtfully designed asynchronous activities. Participants engaged deeply with active learning methodologies, explored the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework, and honed their skills in designing impactful, intercultural virtual collaborations. A central focus was SDG 4.7—empowering educators to cultivate global citizenship and promote sustainable development through education.
The outcome? Over 90% of participants reported a marked boost in their confidence to teach sustainability-related themes, and the post-training confidence average reached an impressive 4.8 out of 5.
From Concept to Creation: Innovative COIL Projects
One of the program’s most notable achievements was the creation of a virtual gallery of 16 original COIL project proposals. These draft projects tackled key global challenges, aligning with SDGs such as:
- SDG 4 – Quality Education
- SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
- SDG 13 – Climate Action
From bilingual virtual exchanges on climate justice to student-led campaigns for educational access and critical cross-border media analysis, the projects demonstrated a remarkable fusion of creativity, pedagogical innovation, and intercultural insight.
Explore the full gallery here: Discover the Power of COIL – Ibero-America Collaboration
A Catalyst for Professional Transformation
Participants described the program as “transformational” and “purpose-driven,” with many reporting a renewed sense of mission and clarity in their roles as educators. The program’s format proved highly effective in fostering meaningful peer-to-peer learning, with consistently strong levels of engagement, collaboration, and cross-cultural exchange throughout the experience.
Overcoming Challenges, Building Community
While participants navigated familiar challenges—such as institutional limitations and workload management—the program’s strong mentoring framework helped them push through, highlighting the importance of structured support and clear guidance in virtual faculty development.
Looking Ahead: Scaling the Movement
Building on this success, STAR Argentina plans to:
- Offer ongoing mentorship to help participants implement their COIL projects.
- Launch a regional Community of Practice to continue fostering SDG-aligned innovation.
- Develop tools to measure long-term impact and institutional change.
A Model for Global Education
This program reinforces COIL’s potential as a democratizing force in international education—particularly in regions where access to physical mobility and traditional partnerships is limited. It exemplifies the STAR Scholars Network’s mission to promote ethical, inclusive, and collaborative global learning experiences.
As we continue to navigate complex global challenges, the success of initiatives like COIL en Clave ODS reminds us of the transformative power of connection, collaboration, and purpose-driven education. Purpose-driven, collaborative education is not only possible—it is essential to building a more just, inclusive, and resilient global future.