Understanding the impact of collaborative online international learning on employability: a stakeholder comparison.

Abstract

Emerging pedagogical theory identifies a growing need for innovative, student-centered, experiential approaches to learning within a context of rapidly evolving conversational media, the commodification of education and changing perceptions of the academy and lifelong learning. This paper will present an overview of a PhD project which will investigate the value of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) as an innovative pedagogical approach and its possible impact on graduate employability, from the perspective of students, curriculum leaders and employers. The research paradigm is interpretivist and an inductive approach will be used to generate a phenomenological epistemology of COIL strategies within universities. Primary qualitative data collection will involve a series of in-depth interviews with students, curriculum leaders and employers in four different countries, and will seek to develop a new conceptual model for COIL programmes within Higher Education which will address the need for future ready graduates in a rapidly transforming employment market