47 SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals – Koya University, Iraq

Soran Kakarash Omer – Instructor

The COIL 2024 project is an international activity which aims to expand students’ perspectives on global issues. In my view, it promotes individual and collective learning by providing opportunities for students to collaboratively create knowledge and share experiences. The program was robust and successful with strong staff support and technical provision. Most significantly, the strength of the project lies in the opportunity for students to beautify and improve their learning. It creates a desire to participate, solve, and innovate, all of which I hope will grow in the coming years.

At Koya, we provided a financial reward for students to congratulate them on their success with the program. In my opinion, this encourages engagement and contributes to the success of the project – at least in our context, where students must often work alongside their studies.

As educators, we want to leave a legacy to our students; to beautify and improve the human experience and benefit the environment around us. This program was a way for me to do so.

Dr. Bnar Jawdat Ahmed – Instructor

As I reflect on my involvement in facilitating the connection between the business administration department at Koya University and the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project, I am struck by the transformative power of global collaboration in fostering innovative approaches to sustainable development.

The COIL project provided a unique platform for students to engage in cross-cultural dialogue, exchange ideas, and collectively explore the intersection of business innovation and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a coordinator of this exchange, I observed firsthand the dynamic process through which students from diverse backgrounds came together to address complex challenges facing our world today.

The collaborative nature of the COIL project fostered a sense of global citizenship among the students, emphasizing the interconnectedness of our actions and the importance of collective responsibility in advancing sustainable development. By working collaboratively across borders, students not only gained valuable insights into different cultural perspectives but also learned the importance of empathy, communication, and mutual respect in addressing common challenges.

However, while the COIL project offered a rich learning experience, it also highlighted the need for greater support and resources to fully realize the potential of international collaboration in higher education. Challenges such as language barriers, technological limitations, and disparities in access to educational opportunities can hinder meaningful engagement and limit the impact of initiatives like COIL.

Moving forward, it is essential that we continue to invest in initiatives that promote global collaboration and equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate an increasingly interconnected world. By fostering a culture of innovation, empathy, and sustainability within higher education, we can empower the next generation of business leaders to drive positive change and contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

In conclusion, my involvement in the COIL project has been a profoundly enriching experience, both personally and professionally. By connecting the business administration department at Koya University with this innovative platform for international collaboration, I have had the privilege of witnessing the transformative impact of cross-cultural dialogue and collective action in advancing sustainable development. As we continue to navigate the complex challenges of the 21st century, initiatives like COIL serve as a beacon of hope, reminding us of the power of collaboration to create a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.

Sophie Brown – Coach (University of Guelph & Koya University)

The COIL project reflects so many aspects of what is needed in higher education. The knowledge required to enter the workplace are changing all the time, but the competencies of collaboration, innovation, technological agility, and interpersonal skills are as needed as ever. COIL connects students from a diverse range of backgrounds into teams with a common goal. They must negotiate time differences, cultural differences, and language barriers with maturity and understanding for the benefit of the whole team. In an increasingly globalized society, the importance of these skills cannot be overemphasized. And all of that is before mentioning the content of the course, which encourages students to consider sustainability in a range of sectors.

The small role I played in COIL 2024 was to connect Koya University to the project and offer a supporting role to the students and staff as they tested out this new project in a new context. What struck me the most was the gratitude of the students. In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, as with many fragile and conflict-affected places, higher education institutions can become isolated and opportunities for international collaboration can be scarce. COIL created a space for Koya University students to be part of a global learning community. I hope that this project continues to provide meaningful inclusion for students, and continues to create ways for higher education institutions to support one another and leverage resources for the benefit of students worldwide. I am also interested in how this method can be adapted to other subjects, and what would serve a unifying purpose similar to the SDGs and business.