About this Programme
Teaching in English has become an essential part of international higher education. As universities welcome an increasing number of international students, academic staff are expected not only to communicate effectively in English but also to create engaging, inclusive and supportive learning environments for students from diverse linguistic, educational and cultural backgrounds.
Building on the knowledge and ideas developed during the 'Collaborative Teaching' Online Workshop Series: Virtual Exchange, COIL, and BIPs, the on-site workshop provides participants with the opportunity to meet in person, deepen their understanding through practical activities, and collaboratively develop internationally oriented teaching initiatives.
Organised by the Technical University of Košice (TUKE) as part of the Global Mindset @TUKE initiative, the workshop contributes to TUKE's long-term commitment to the internationalisation of higher education and the continuous professional development of its academic staff.
On-site Workshop (1-2 October 2026, TUKE Campus, Slovakia) – a hands-on, practice-oriented workshop where participants will explore practical approaches to internationally oriented teaching and put the principles of COIL into practice. Through interactive sessions, participants will discover inclusive and engaging EMI practices, review and enhance their own teaching materials, and collaborate with colleagues to design collaborative projects that can be implemented in their own teaching.
The programme will be led by an internationally recognised expert in Virtual Exchange, COIL, and educational innovation, who also serves as a Full Professor of English Studies.
The workshops are also intended for participants from Ulysseus partner institutions who aim to develop and launch their COIL projects under the Ulysseus Seed Fund Call 2026.
Learning outcomes
The programme is designed for participants who are ready to turn ideas into practice. Through collaborative course design, peer exchange, and hands-on activities, participants will develop COIL/Virtual Exchange concepts, enhance their internationally oriented teaching practices, and leave with concrete plans and resources ready to implement in their own courses.
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Apply the principles of effective English Medium Instruction (EMI) in higher education;
- Design teaching activities that encourage active participation in multilingual and multicultural classrooms;
- Structure lectures and learning materials to improve clarity and accessibility for international students;
- Apply practical strategies that reduce language-related barriers to learning;
- Create more inclusive learning environments for culturally diverse student groups;
- Further develop COIL and Virtual Exchange activities for implementation in their own courses;
- Collaborate with international colleagues on innovative teaching approaches and exchange good practice;
- Deliver a short teaching session in English while applying EMI principles;
- Provide and receive constructive peer feedback in a supportive professional environment.
Who should attend?
This workshop is intended for:
- Academic staff teaching in English;
- Lecturers preparing to introduce English-taught courses;
- Teachers working with international students;
- Educators interested in strengthening the international dimension of their teaching;
- Participants of the September online workshop series who wish to further develop their COIL or Virtual Exchange ideas into practical teaching projects;
- Academic staff wishing to exchange good practice with colleagues from across the Ulysseus Alliance.
No previous EMI training is required.
Workshop format
📅 Dates: 1–2 October 2026
📍 Venue: UVP Technicom, Technical University of Košice, SlovakiaParticipation in the on-site workshop (Part 2) is free of charge. Participants are, however, responsible for covering their own travel, accommodation and other expenses related to their stay in Košice, Slovakia. Where eligible, these costs may be funded through Erasmus+ staff mobility.
Day 1
📅 Date: 1 October 2026
🕙 Time: full dayMorning: Interaction, Assessment and the Inclusive International Classroom
Afternoon: VE and COIL Project Design Workshop
Explore practical approaches to internationally oriented teaching. Discover interactive and inclusive EMI practices, review your own teaching materials, and collaborate with colleagues to design COIL, Virtual Exchange and Blended Intensive Programme projects.
Day 2
📅 Date: 2 October 2026
🕙 Time: full dayMorning: Designing Your COIL/VE
Afternoon: Microteaching Workshop, Proposing an International Exchange ProjectPractise your teaching skills through a microteaching activity! Deliver a short session from your own discipline, experiment with strategies for engaging internationally diverse student groups, and receive constructive feedback from peers and the facilitator.
