University of Salford law students have completed a 12-week Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project with students from the British University of Bahrain (BUB), exploring global legal issues while developing research, teamwork and presentation skills .
Collaborative Online International Learning brings students from universities in different countries together to work on shared academic projects and develop professional skills through online collaboration.,
The project involved Salford law students working alongside peers from BUB, which is based in Saar, Bahrain, and works in academic partnership with the University of Salford to deliver UK-based degrees in Bahrain. Its LLB Law programme is designed to provide students with legal knowledge and skills for future study and professional careers.
This extra-curricular project saw students working in international teams to research and present on three contemporary themes:
- Artificial intelligence and digital justice
- Equality and diversity across the globe
- Environmental justice
The themes encouraged students to think critically about law in a global context, comparing legal, cultural and social perspectives across jurisdictions.
The project concluded with final presentations delivered to a panel of experts, where students presented their research findings and reflected on comparative legal issues. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, with students describing guidance as “extremely useful” and saying their presentations went “extremely well.”
Shurooq Shariq, a student at the British University of Bahrain said: “It was a very exciting and new experience, working with people internationally, and we got to work and understand each other in a very short amount of time.”
Mariam Aljar, a student at the University of Salford reflected: “I learned how to work effectively with people from different perspectives and backgrounds, while developing new skills and strengthening the ones I already had.”
Mariam added that the experience change their perspective on collaborative work, saying: “This project helped change my perspective on approaching group projects in a more positive way, which I believe will support me in my future profession.”
Students also highlighted the value of working with peers from different legal, educational and cultural contexts, with Yara Albatran, a student at the University of Salford commenting: “I learned to be open-minded and look at different perspectives or approaches to certain legal issues.”
Craig Smith, Lecturer in Law at the University of Salford, said the project demonstrated the value of international collaboration in legal education:
“COIL gives students the opportunity to develop legal knowledge while also practising the kinds of skills they will need in professional life. This project asked students to work across institutions, time zones and legal cultures, while researching complex and contemporary issues. The quality of the final presentations showed real commitment, confidence and development across the 12 weeks.”
The project forms part of the University of Salford’s wider commitment to innovative, international and practice-informed learning, helping students develop the confidence and global perspective needed for an increasingly international legal profession.