PHILIPPINES, October 14, 2026 – Lecturers from the English Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar (Unismuh Makassar), conducted an international community service activity at Isabela State University (ISU), Philippines. This initiative is part of an effort to strengthen international academic collaboration focused on developing digital competence, multimodal literacy, and cross-cultural understanding in higher education.
The activity was carried out through a workshop titled “Navigating Digital Identity and Multimodal Literacy Through COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) Frameworks.” The workshop was designed to broaden students' perspectives on digital identity, multimodal communication, and the use of online collaborative learning to build digital competencies and intercultural awareness.
In this program, two lecturers from Unismuh Makassar’s English Education Study Program, Ismail Sangkala and Sulkifli, served as speakers alongside Ali Syahban Amir from Institut Turatea Indonesia. The three shared academic knowledge and experiences through interactive discussions that encouraged students to understand the importance of digital literacy and international collaboration in responding to educational advancements in the digital era.
The Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) approach highlighted in the workshop is a collaborative learning strategy that connects students and educators from different institutions to exchange perspectives, work together, and foster cross-cultural understanding through digitally integrated learning activities.
This international outreach aligns with Unismuh Makassar's efforts to expand the global contribution of its faculty while strengthening the implementation of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, particularly in community service. Through this event, lecturers not only shared their expertise within an international academic setting but also created a space for knowledge exchange that supports the improvement of educational quality.
The activity further solidifies the academic ties among Unismuh Makassar, Isabela State University, and Institut Turatea Indonesia. Previously, the three institutions formalized their partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering cooperation in education, research, academic exchange, culture, and community service.
Through this international outreach, the English Education Study Program at Unismuh Makassar is expected to contribute more actively to global-oriented educational development, expand inter-university cooperation networks, and deliver adaptive learning innovations that meet technological developments and international societal needs.