The Universidad Panamericana to strengthen its leadership in educational research and innovation through digital internationalization projects.
As part of this effort, Dr. Claudia Ivett Romero-Delgado, in collaboration with Dr. Antonieta Martínez-Velasco and specialists from the University of Lima (Peru) and the University of La Sabana (Colombia), published the article Whiteness, Technological Capital and Platformed Interculturality: COIL Experiences in Latin America in the Journal of Intercultural Studies, one of the most prominent international journals in the field of intercultural studies.
The article is available via this link; please use your Universidad Panamericana credentials Universidad Panamericana access the full text.
The study examines a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) initiative involving communication students from Mexico, Peru, and Colombia using the LinkedIn platform. This model is part of "internationalization at home" strategies, which enable students to develop global competencies without the need for physical mobility.
What does the research on digital internationalization and COIL reveal?
Using a mixed-methods approach that draws on data from more than 100 students and an analysis of digital dynamics, the study demonstrates that digital internationalization does not occur in neutral spaces. On the contrary, it is shaped by factors such as technological capital, the management of professional visibility, and the implicit norms of interaction on digital platforms.
The key findings include:
- Proficiency in digital tools and visual formats (such as video or interactive design) is becoming a key factor in academic and professional distinction.
- There is a gap between what students say (intercultural openness) and what they actually do (limited, performance-oriented interactions).
- Interculturality tends to manifest itself in “safe” formats—such as cuisine—that avoid conflict and foster a symbolic, yet uncritical, coexistence.
These findings call for a rethinking of the role of universities in international education: beyond promoting global experiences, it is necessary to design models that also challenge the inequalities and power dynamics that are reproduced in digital environments.
Educational Innovation and International Research at the UP
The collaboration between the School of Communication and the School of Engineering at the Universidad Panamericana, together with partner institutions in Peru and Colombia, reinforces the COIL model as a platform for pedagogical innovation, applied research, and university internationalization.
In addition to strengthening international academic collaboration, these types of projects position the Universidad Panamericana a leader in the discussion on higher education, technology, and interculturalism in Latin America.
