COIL Funding Opportunities

The Office of Global Affairs / Global Academic Initiatives has two connected grant opportunities to support ECU faculty in the development of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) modules to be embedded within existing courses. These grants are designed to support faculty time, planning, and collaboration with international partners to create high-quality COIL experiences for students.

Two funding opportunities are available:

• A COIL Project Development Grant (up to $2,000 stipend), and
• A COIL Travel Grant (up to $5,000 for travel expenses) for projects that would benefit from in-person partnership development.

Faculty are strongly encouraged to attend a COIL Info Session and review the full COIL Mini-Grant RFP, which serves as the official program guide.

Program at a Glance

• Proposals Due: February 13, 2026
• Eligible Applicants: ECU fixed-term, tenure-track, and tenured faculty
• Project Type: COIL module embedded in an existing ECU course
• Implementation: Fall 2026 or Spring 2027

Funding Opportunities

COIL Project Development Grant (up to $2,000 stipend)

The COIL Project Development Grant supports faculty time and effort to design, coordinate, and implement a COIL module to embed within an existing ECU course.

Funding supports:

• Collaborative planning with an international partner
• Design of COIL modules, activities, and assignments
• Coordination of schedules, tools, and project logistics

Funding is disbursed in two payments:

• $1,000 after submission and approval of a COIL Project Plan (due June 1, 2026)
• $1,000 after COIL implementation in either Fall 2026 or Spring 2027

Training Requirement: Successful applicants must complete ECU’s asynchronous COIL training by March 15, 2026 to activate the award.

Faculty who successfully implement their COIL module may apply for a continuation grant ($500) to repeat the COIL in a later semester. See the RFP for details.

COIL Travel Grant (optional add-on – up to $5,000 towards travel expenses)

Faculty applying for the COIL Project Development Grant may also request a COIL Travel Grant. Travel support can be used for either:

• ECU faculty travel to their partner’s institution, or
• Partner faculty travel to ECU.

Travel grants are competitive and limited. Only applicants selected to receive a COIL Project Development Grant will be considered for travel funding. All travel must be completed by June 1, 2026.

Travel funding is intended to:

• Facilitate planning related to COIL project development
• Support relationship-building with an international partner
• Strengthen the relationship between ECU and the partner institution, particularly for expanding COIL activities

Refer to the RFP for additional information, expectations, and application requirements.

Learn More and Apply

• Review the COIL Mini-Grant RFP
• View the recording for the Spring 2026 COIL Info Session
• Apply Now
• Questions? Email virtualexchange@ecu.edu

FAQs

Do I need to have an international partner before applying?

No. You may apply without a confirmed partner. If selected, you will still need to identify a partner and submit an approved COIL Plan by the required deadline.

If I don’t have a partner in mind, can GAI help?

GAI can share information about common partner-finding pathways and resources, including existing networks and institutional connections.

Is there any COIL training available and/or required?

Yes. Completion of ECU’s asynchronous COIL training is required to activate the award, but it does not need to be completed by the application deadline.

Can I apply for the Travel Grant only?

No. Travel funding is only available in conjunction with a COIL Project Development Grant.