The Global Challenges Teaching Awards (GCTA) showcase innovative Virtual Exchange/Collaborative Online International Learning (VE/COIL) collaborations designed to address pressing global challenges. These projects bring together faculty, staff, and students across disciplines and borders, fostering cross-cultural understanding, innovative pedagogy, and real-world problem-solving.

The GCTA partnerships exemplify the impact of VE/COIL in global education. Through interdisciplinary collaboration, innovative teaching methods, and cross-cultural engagement, these projects enhance student learning while strengthening connections between institutions worldwide. As faculty and institutions refine and expand their initiatives, GCTA serves as a model for integrating global learning into higher education.

By equipping students with the skills to analyze and address complex challenges—such as inequality, polarization, and climate change—the GCTA program is advancing a more interconnected, resilient, and sustainable future.

Enhancing Transatlantic Collaboration on Social and Civic Challenges

	Kameelah Martin, Professor of African American Studies, School of Languages, Cultures, & World Affairs Aimee Arias, Dean of the School of Languages, Cultures, and World Affairs Debby Marindin, Instructional Technologist, Office of Information Technology	Dionne Taylor, Associate Professor in Sociology and Black Studies | MA Black Studies and Global Justice Course Lead Lucy Stubbs, Acting Head of Operations, Mobility & Partnerships  Melanie-Marie Haywood, Director of Education Development Service Adrian Banting, Instructional Developer of Education Development Service Rai Challis, Instructional Developer of Education Development Service

This eight-week collaboration connects Martin’s course Ancestries of Enslavement with Taylor’s Black Studies Project module. Together, the professors aim to foster interdisciplinary research, digital storytelling, and self-reflection on historical narratives and cultural identities. Oral storytelling, a reflection of shared traditions, and an examination of intersecting social and historical perspectives will serve as central components of their collaboration.

Supported by instructional designers, the professors are developing a scaffolded series of collaborative activities, including peer review and student-led discussions, to deepen engagement with historical and societal themes. Assessments will be guided by customized rubrics and tools to measure growth in critical thinking, analytical skills, and intercultural communication.

The GCTA initiative also provides an opportunity to expand VE/COIL at both institutions by linking this project to other global partnerships and academic collaborations. With senior leadership involvement, this initiative lays the groundwork for sustained institutional engagement and future growth.

Developing Globally Minded Citizenship to Address Polarization

	Ava Thorpe, Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice, School of Arts and Sciences  Rayton Sianjina, Director, Office of Global Studies and Engagement Darryl Hancock, Director of Online Learning and Professional Development, Center for Teaching and Learning	Mark McLay, Lecturer in 20th Century US History; Faculty of Social Sciences Anyka Webb - Global Engagement Manager, Global Engagement, External Relations Phil Tubman, Digital Learning Facilitation Manager, Information Systems Services

This collaboration connects Thorpe’s Minorites course, which examines minority experiences, in different societal contexts, with McLay’s module, American Carnage: The United States in the Age of Polarisation, which explores the historical and social dynamics influencing societal division in the U.S.

The virtual exchange will integrate synchronous discussions, collaborative group activities, and a digital storytelling project to enhance students’ analytical skills and global engagement. Shared learning objectives focus on intercultural communication, critical thinking, and professional competencies. The goal is to prepare students to engage constructively with complex global issues.

Both supporting teams are working on strategies to expand this partnership. FVSU plans to incorporate COIL into its annual curriculum internationalization workshop, positioning this initiative as a model for other institutions seeking to integrate VE/COIL. Lancaster aims to embed COIL into its Global Learning Week and Curriculum Transformation Project, increasing faculty participation and institutional engagement.

Addressing Societal Disparities Through Cross-Cultural Collaborations

	Julia Paxton, Professor and Undergraduate Chair of Economics; College of Arts & Sciences Gillian Ice, Interim Associate Provost for Global Affairs, Professor of Social Medicine, Office of Global Affairs, Department of Social Medicine Jeremy Henkel, Associate Director for Faculty Programming, Center for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment	Philip McGowan, Professor, Associate Dean of Internationalisation, Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences  Susan McCleary, Senior International Officer for North America, International Office Natalie Le Seelleur, Educational Project Developer, Centre for Educational Development  Shelby Hanna, Employability and Skills Development Officer, Digital Learning and Work-Related Learning

Paxton’s Economics of Povertycourse examines economic conditions and policy responses through service-learning, while McGowan’s Incorrigibly Pluralmodule explores social and political structures. Together, their COIL collaboration connects economic and cultural perspectives, providing students with a broad understanding of inequality in a global context.

The eight-week program will culminate in joint student research projects presented at an online mini-conference. Activities will include research, peer assessment, and real-world case studies featuring insights from a World Bank expert. Both professors are utilizing their professional networks to enhance student engagement.

With support from instructional designers and administrative teams, this COIL project promotes interdisciplinary learning, digital collaboration, and global awareness. It also builds a foundation for expanding VE/COIL programs at both institutions, creating future opportunities for international academic exchange.

Collaborative Approaches to Global Climate Challenges

	Colleen Hitchcock, Professor, Chair of Environmental Studies Program; School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Biology Irina Dubinina, Professor of Russian, Director of the Russian Language Program; Department of German, Russian and Asian Languages and Literature (GRALL) Jui-Hsin Renee Hung, Learning Designer; Learning Design and Instructional Technology	William Quirke, Teaching Fellow, Strathclyde Institute of Education David Roxburgh, Depute Head of Institute (Innovation and Impact), Principal Teaching Fellow, Strathclyde Institute of Education Iain Moore, Senior Teaching Fellow, Strathclyde Institute of Education

Hitchcock’s Biology of Climate Change course emphasizes participatory science and field research, while Quirke’s Learning for Sustainability module explores sustainability in educational contexts. Together, their COIL collaboration provides students with interdisciplinary perspectives on biodiversity, environmental challenges, and practical strategies for sustainability.

The six-week program integrates weekly synchronous discussions with asynchronous field-based research using open-source tools. Students begin with place-based case studies and collaborate to collect and analyze data from their local environments. The partnership concludes with group projects and oral presentations.

Pedagogical advisors and administrative staff support faculty in refining activities, assessments, and technology integration. Both institutions plan to expand VE/COIL initiatives by leveraging expertise gained through GCTA. Future goals include establishing a Faculty Learning Community at Brandeis and utilizing Strathclyde’s Learning Enhancement Group to increase faculty engagement in VE/COIL activities.