A new course was implemented this spring which allowed students an opportunity for real-world experience in the international realm. The course “International Social Work: Exploring Challenges and Opportunities through a UN Sustainable Development Goal Lens” highlights the global role of social workers, emphasizing how international social issues influence their work.
Dr. Mary Gitau, UT College of Social Work (UTCSW) Associate Dean for Access, Belonging, and Global Engagement and Associate Professor of Practice developed the course after participating in a month-long Fundamentals of COIL Design & Facilitation Workshop for UTK offered by Florida International University together with their international partner institutions.
During the summit, Gitau and UTCSW Clinical Associate Professor Dr. Phyllis Thompson were introduced to COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning), which is a project-based learning methodology where students collaborate online with peers at an international institution to work on meaningful assignments. Each project aligns with specific United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), reinforcing UT’s commitment to global citizenship and social responsibility, and offers unique opportunities for students to engage in important cross-cultural exchanges, develop global competencies, and collaborate on real-world issues with peers from around the world. These initiatives are part of internationalizing the curriculum and preparing students for success in a globalized world. Additionally, Dr. Gitau and Dr. Thompson presented at the 2025 Global Summit and the Association of Baccalaureate Social Work Program Directors (BPD) conference on their experience in integrating COIL projects into their courses.
COIL is particularly relevant to social work because it allows students to gain global perspectives on various issues such as health care, equity, mental health, poverty, and political differences. Additionally, it’s a way to develop culturally informed interventions and build empathy, cultural humility, and understanding across international borders.
For Gitau’s class, students from the UTCSW partnered with peers from Maasai Mara University in Kenya. Together, they engaged in activities and projects aligned with the course objectives, leveraging technology to enhance global learning and develop intercultural competencies. The eight-week COIL program explored global health challenges and social issues through the lens of sustainable development. Students met via Zoom with Maasai Mara University over four weeks for three hours each time. Both universities worked together to build modules on Free Canvas to break down the power imbalance and allow mutual collaboration.
Gitau explained that her class had to develop a multimedia campaign aimed at raising awareness and educating the public about a specific global health issue relevant to both the U.S.A. and Kenya. “The multi-faceted campaign gave our students the opportunity to really drill down and come up with specific deliverables,” she said. “Their campaigns included a research component where they had to identify key facts and incorporate three of the UN Sustainable Development goals, a media component that included campaign materials, such as posters, videos, social media posts, and informational brochures, and an implementation plan which included developing a strategy for disseminating the campaign materials in both countries.”
The students quickly realized some of the challenges they would face, which Gitau reminded them were real-world situations. “One of the most recurring challenges for the students was the time difference between the United States and Kenya,” Gitau explained. “And this was exacerbated even more when the U.S ‘sprang forward’ to Daylight Saving Time. Additionally, some of my students realized that not everyone had the same level of computer technology skills, which meant finding solutions that everyone in both countries could work with. These were authentic life lessons, and I was proud of the flexibility everyone displayed.”
As the class progressed and then started winding down, Gitau recognized an enormous amount of cultural and communication growth among the classes. Students consistently cited adapting communication styles as both a challenge and a major learning opportunity. They appreciated real-time experience navigating cultural and linguistic differences, which deepened their intercultural competencies. Several students expressed newfound mindfulness in how they use language, particularly avoiding slang or overly complex terms.
Many students emphasized that COIL provided a unique, hands-on experience they wouldn’t have gained through traditional coursework or textbook learning. Gitau is already looking forward to teaching the class again next year and plans to use the lessons she learned from both sets of students to enhance the class and take it to the next level.