Hartford, Ct- On October 15, 2026, Dion Ginanto, a lecturer at UIN Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi and coordinator of PLKI-LPPM, stood before students and faculty at the Macdonald Center for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford International University. His task: to introduce a teaching model that aims to dissolve borders in education.
The program, part of the Ministry of Religious Affairs’ visiting scholar initiative, spotlighted Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL); a framework designed to connect classrooms across continents through shared projects, dialogue, and cultural exchange.
A Classroom Without Borders
Ginanto’s lecture, Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL): Lessons Learned from Indonesia, unfolded in two parts: a 30‑minute presentation followed by an equally long discussion. The audience; a mix of students, faculty, and staff; engaged actively, with six participants raising questions that ranged from technical challenges to the broader promise of COIL for smaller institutions.
The session concluded not in formality but over lunch, where conversations about collaboration continued in a more relaxed setting. During the session, Dion introduced three batches of COIL conducted with Michigan State University and the University of Wyoming. For Ginanto, COIL is more than a pedagogical tool.
“It is not merely about sharing course material,” he said. “It is about learning each other’s languages and cultures, and building mutual understanding across borders.”
Kasful Anwar, rector of UIN STS Jambi, framed the lecture as part of a larger vision for the university.
“Through the visiting scholar program, we hope our lecturers can carry the spirit of internationalization and strengthen global networks,” he said.
Building Global Networks
The event underscored a growing emphasis on international collaboration in Indonesian higher education. By embedding COIL into its academic strategy, UIN STS Jambi seeks to expand opportunities for its students to engage globally; not through costly exchanges, but through accessible, technology‑driven partnerships.
For Hartford International University, the lecture offered a glimpse into how institutions in Indonesia are reimagining education for a world where borders matter less than dialogue.