Collaborative Online International Learning: a Catalyst for Advancing Lean Construction Education

This paper explores the implementation and impact of Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) as a pedagogical approach to enhance Lean construction education. COIL facilitates collaboration between students from geographically diverse institutions through joint projects, promoting international engagement without the need for physical mobility. Two case studies are presented, involving Nottingham Trent University (UK) students collaborating with partner universities in India (2022) and South Africa (2023), to demonstrate how COIL projects were designed and executed to support the global application of Lean principles. Working in international teams, students applied Lean to identify and reduce various forms of waste on live construction sites. Their digital collaboration, captured through Miro boards, along with reflective reports, was analysed to evaluate the learning experience. Findings indicate that the structured COIL approach improved students’ understanding of Lean concepts and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), while also strengthening key skills such as teamwork, resilience, and digital literacy. Despite challenges, including time zone differences, uneven levels of participation, and technological barriers, the projects highlight COIL’s potential to instil a sense of ownership in students' learning and support their personal and professional growth. This paper demonstrates how a do-it-yourself (DIY) learning environment can successfully foster international collaboration and promote Lean Construction education within a globally diverse academic community.