Dr. Philip Appiah-Kubi has reimagined what it means to prepare students for a connected world. For years, he has been elevating the classroom experience by empowering University of Dayton students to connect across cultures, explore complex global issues, and grow into ethically minded, globally aware individuals. His dedication to fostering meaningful learning experiences for students is now being recognized on the international stage.
An Associate Professor in the School of Engineering, Dr. Appiah-Kubi was nominated and named a SUNY COIL Ambassador — an honor given by the State University of New York (SUNY) COIL Center, a pioneer in promoting Collaborative Online International Learning and Virtual Exchange. This recognition was given to select faculty worldwide for their continued leadership in COIL and commitment to pedagogical innovations and embracing of experiential learning, as well as inclusive teaching and learning practices.
COIL is gaining momentum across higher education as a flexible way to integrate international experiences into the curriculum. For some institutions, it is becoming part of a larger global learning strategy to provide diverse options for students to enhance their intercultural and global skills. It pairs students and faculty from institutions in different countries to engage in deep collaboration on course-based projects, often tackling real-world challenges.
“We use COIL to give students equal access to develop intercultural and collaborative skills,” Dr. Appiah-Kubi said.
In his engineering courses, Dr. Appiah-Kubi builds client-based projects, often partnering with nonprofit organizations that have critical needs but limited resources. In addition to client-based COIL projects, he also identifies emerging global engineering challenges that align with his course objectives for students to work on as projects.
One collaboration involved the Dayton International Peace Museum, where students from UD worked with peers in another country to develop engineering solutions aimed at increasing museum visibility and attendance. In another project, students partnered with Five Rivers MetroParks to design a sustainable aquaponics system that could operate year-round in both the United States and in regions like sub-Saharan Africa, where heating systems are often cost-prohibitive.
Dr. Appiah-Kubi’s COIL projects often intersect with global priorities like sustainability, innovation and community well-being. By working on shared global issues with international partners, students begin to see how their academic work connects to broader challenges—and possibilities—around the world.
He began his COIL work through the University of Dayton’s Global Education Seminar, which supports faculty development and international collaboration through site visits. A visit to Ghana and Togo helped him connect with faculty partners and inspired him to later participate in UD’s COIL Fellows Program, which led to his first project. Since then, he has COILed a number of courses and published research on the impact of COIL in engineering courses. He has also presented at conferences on best practices and lessons learned.
For faculty unsure of where to begin, Dr. Appiah-Kubi encourages taking the first step.
“We are here to help our students succeed in whatever industry they enter,” he said. “And one way to do that, especially when it comes to building global and intercultural competency, is through COIL.”
As a SUNY COIL ambassador, Dr. Appiah-Kubi exemplifies a deep commitment to international education. His leadership is helping more faculty at UD and beyond explore global virtual collaboration. Through his work, he is fostering a more inclusive, innovative and globally connected academic community — one project, one partnership and one student at a time.
To learn more about the COIL Classes or the COIL Fellows Program, email gia@udayton.edu.