Background and UNIVA GOAL framework
The UNIVA GOAL program is inspired on the concept «Collaborative Online International Learning» (COIL), coined in 2006 at the State University of New York (SUNY), United States, within the framework of the strategy undertaken by this institution to deepen the experience of global experiences of its educational community, linking them with the increasingly intensive use of technologies. Over the time and as SUNY’s initiative proved successful, other U.S. and global institutions gradually replicated the program.
COIL is part of the initiatives called ‘Internationalization at Home’ to which the Comprehensive Internationalization model refers, since it allows the experience of global experiences without the need for participants to leave their home country. Furthermore, the program fosters the development of Internationalization in the current context, promoted by the intensive use of social networks, by a greater commitment of higher education institutions to the use of technologies and virtuality, as well as the financial limitations of students and their families to meet the costs of university education.
The Office for International Development at UNIVA, considering the context previously described, decided to extend and deepen the Internationalization of the institution by implementing the UNIVA GOAL Program (Global Online Applied Learning Program) since 2020, a COIL-like program, that aims to increase the number of members of the university community with access to global experiences by the use of technologies in international programs.
In our six previous editions, the UNIVA GOAL program has invited 353 international professors from 74 partner universities from countries such as: Argentina, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, France, Germany, Ireland, Lebanon, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Spain, United States, and Uruguay, who -together with 360 UNIVA Professors– have worked collaboratively, generating projects between their institutions and encouraging other additional collaborations, such as: talks, workshops, conferences, panels, Webinars, etc. hence achieving the participation of over 11.5 thousand members of the participating university communities, including academic-administrative staff and students benefited from this program.
How does the program work?
– The program requires the participation of at least two professors, one from UNIVA and one from an external university, who will be teaching, simultaneously, a class with similar contents (October 2026), each in their respective country.
– Both professors, at the time determined for this purpose, decide on a number of activities and/or projects that their students will develop in an asynchronous or synchronous collaborative way (this considering the time zone of each country, as well as the days and times of each class, both options being acceptable for the project) with the students of the other institution, working in teams. Students will be able to use the didactic and technological resources provided by UNIVA, also relying on their own creativity. For the development of the activities, the students from both countries will receive an evaluation and grade from both professors. Each team must consist of students from both institutions.
– It is important to mention that the UNIVA GOAL program will consider the implementation of these actions in the month of October of each year.
– Prior to the start of the program, virtual meetings will be held for interested professors to contact each other, in order to determine what collaborative project, the students will be developing together. This is done, ideally, between July and August.
AREAS THAT PARTICIPATE
– Social Sciences and Humanities
– Economic Administrative Studies and Business
– Exact Sciences and Engineering
– Health Sciences
– Communication, Languages and Multimedia
Examples of projects that can be developed:
– A group report (research, reading, analysis, among others).
– Evidence Portfolio.
– Analysis of case studies with comparative approaches in each country.
– A solution’s report on a chosen problem.
– Guided debates and discussions.
– Simultaneous virtual presentations.
– Virtual presentations in colloquia.
– An essay written collaboratively by two students (comparative, argumentative, expository, or analytical).
– Creation of an intercultural video.
– Any other activity proposed by both professors and that involves the demonstration of the knowledge acquired in their respective classes and that requires interaction between both cultures.
What are the benefits of participating in the program?
– UNIVA will ensure that participating professors have access to Learning Management Systems for class development, specifically Moodle and MS Teams.
– In the case of those professors who require it, UNIVA will provide training in the use of the platforms used in this program.
– Professors will receive a certificate of participation with curricular value.
IMPORTANT DATES:
- May 22: Application deadline.
- June 22 to 26: Notification of selection.
- June 29 to July 3: Selected faculty members confirm their participation.
- July 14: Professors’ virtual welcoming and introductory session about the program (National and International Professors).
- July 21: Training and Teamwork development between professors and important aspects of the projects.
- August: Design of the academic collaboration plan among the two professors, selection of activities, design project, grading criteria, work dynamics.
- September: Brief Orientation and cultural awareness for students of each country about the activities taking place in October, led by the peer professors.
- October 6: Institutional welcome session to the UNIVA GOAL 2026 program, via ZOOM.
- October 8 to 31: Execution of the UNIVA GOAL Program, collaborative activities between students.
- October 26 to 31: Evaluation Period.
- November 18: 7th Forum of Outstanding UNIVA GOAL Projects in which selected students will present their projects, via ZOOM.}
Application documents:
Professors interested in participating in the program should complete the following form: https://forms.office.com/r/nUAXYvSPa1?origin=lprLink
Additionally, they must send their application via email to Prof. Renata Saucedo, Officer for Internationalization at Home Programs, at univa.goal@univa.mx. In the mail, make sure to attach:
– Application letter: free format, including the name of the home institution, the academic program, and the subject that they will be teaching in the Fall semester (active from October 8th to 31st, 2026), as well as their teaching and professional experience related to that subject.
– Curriculum Vitae.
Important Notes:
– The notification of acceptance of any foreign professor participating in the program will be informed exclusively by the International Development Office of the UNIVA System, via email from univa.goal@univa.mx
– Only projects or participations of professors whose application is validated and authorized by the Academic Areas of the UNIVA System in the previously established times will be accepted. Unofficial agreements or direct arrangements between professors will NOT be accepted.
– At the time of application, the foreign professors must confirm that during the month of October they will have an assigned group at their university.
In case further questions arise or additional information is needed, please do not hesitate to contact Prof. Renata Saucedo at the following email address: univa.goal@univa.mx
Sincerely,
“Saber más para ser más”
Prof. Sandra Hernández Salazar
Head of the Office for International Development
Universidad del Valle de Atemajac, Mexico.
