From a COIL Project to a Solo Trip to Rome: How an Academic Assignment Led to an International Friendship

By Jane Bergin, 4th Year BComm student. 

Sometimes, the most meaningful experiences from education are the ones that continue long after an assignment has been submitted.

During my third year studying International Hotel Management at Shannon College of Hotel Management, I took part in a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) project as part of a Principles of Marketing module with Ms Celine Ryan. The project connected our class with students from FH Wien in Vienna, giving us the opportunity to learn about another culture, while applying consumer behaviour and marketing theory.

My COIL partner was Maia from Rome and studying Tourism Studies in Vienna. Through emails, video calls and messages, we learned about each other's lives, cultures and interests. One of my favourite aspects of the project was exchanging language phrases and sharing cultural traditions. For the assignment itself, I developed a consumer profile based on Maia's interests and explored how a particular product could be marketed to her. Maia completed a similar project based on what she had learned about me.

What began as a class project quickly became a friendship. We had genuinely enjoyed getting to know each other, so when we submitted our assignments, we decided to stay in touch.

Six months later, I was boarding a flight to Rome to finally meet Maia in person.

Bringing the COIL Project to Life

Meeting face-to-face after months of online communication felt special. Maia welcomed me into her city, introduced me to her friends and showed me a side of Rome that most tourists never see. Alongside famous landmarks, we explored quieter neighbourhoods, local viewpoints, cafés and hidden corners that gave me a real insight into everyday life in the city. After one particularly busy day of walking, Maia decided that instead of eating in a restaurant, she would cook homemade pasta at her apartment. We ate on her balcony overlooking Rome, and I can honestly say it was one of the most authentic and memorable meals of the trip.

More Than a Tourist Experience: The Lasting Value of Connection

Looking back, I think my experience highlights something particularly valuable about projects like COIL. The assignment helped us develop intercultural communication skills and apply marketing theory, but the most meaningful outcome was the friendship that emerged from it.

For me, that is the real value of international learning experiences. Education is not just about acquiring knowledge; it is also about building relationships, broadening perspectives and creating opportunities in unexpected ways. Sometimes, a conversation that begins because of an assignment can lead somewhere much further. 

In my case, it led all the way to Rome.