COIL: virtual exchange between Leiden and Santiago (Chili)
From the first semester of 2026, Leiden University and Universidad Diego Portales (Santiago, Chile) will launch three online virtual exchange programmes. The themes are: political analysis, tensions surrounding Indigenous peoples in Latin America, and the securitisation of borders.
Internationalisation and intercultural competences
The three COIL exchange programmes (Collaborative Online International Learning) connect courses from different countries. In doing so, they promote not only internationalisation, but also collaboration between students and lecturers. The modules are currently being developed and will be integrated into regular courses from the first semester of 2026.
Carlos Ahumada, Coordinator of Global Education and Cooperation at Universidad Diego Portales, emphasises that COIL enables students to experience what international collaboration is like and offers insight into the teaching approaches of both institutions. This may even lead to a physical exchange at Leiden University at a later stage. Anoek van den Berg, Director of International Relations at UDP, adds that the programme helps students develop intercultural competences such as empathy, mutual understanding and critical thinking – skills that are essential for both their studies and their future careers.
Public Opinion and the welfare state
This COIL links the courses Political Analysis Workshop: Public Opinion and Democracy (Hernán Campos, UDP) and Markets in the Welfare State (Fabio Bulfone, Leiden University). Students explore the challenges facing welfare states and social policy from a comparative perspective. Through joint classes and activities, they analyse the role of markets and public opinion in democracies worldwide, making cross-border learning immediately more tangible and concrete.
Indigenous peoples and global studies
In this COIL, Indigeneities in Latin America (Soledad Valdivia, Adriana Churampi Ramírez and Bruil Martine, Leiden University) is paired with Indigenous Population in Chile and the Americas (Alejandro Rossi, UDP). Students examine tensions between Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations in Latin America. They collaborate on a central research question, divide sub-questions among themselves, and present their findings in a multimedia final project. Critical comparison, intercultural thinking and collaboration are central to this module.
Securitisation and human mobility
This COIL connects Human Realities of Securitization (Constanza Jorquera, UDP) with Border Criminologies: the Criminalization of Mobility (Amalia Campos-Delgado, Leiden University). Students investigate how the securitisation of borders affects human mobility and shapes political and social identities. By jointly analysing current conflicts and debates at local, national and global levels, they learn how issues such as citizenship, rights and mobility are interconnected.
More information
Would you like to know more about these COILs and how to participate, or would you like further information about all the opportunities to gain international experience? Please use the International Experience Navigator or contact the FGGA International Office at: international@fgga.leidenuniv.nl. Once the programme details are available, check whether you meet any entry requirements