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About Colosh

The aim of the project is to build the capacity and readiness of the partner institutions for an effective transition to international digital learning. This will be achieved through innovative teaching approaches, the effective use of digital technologies in education and the development of related (including digital) kills for teachers and students. The main focus is on Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), i.e. online learning in an international environment with interactive engagement of students and teachers from different international and intercultural backgrounds inside and outside the classroom. The project responds to the need for digitalization, internationalisation and practice-orientation (reflection on the world of work) of higher education in occupational safety and health (OSH).

The COLOSH project will develop and implement student-centred COIL projects in OSH-specific education and training. It will thus support interconnected OSH higher education systems by building a community of teachers and trainers that share knowledge, resources, experiences, and good practices. This will enable partner organisations to collaborate more effectively and efficiently, leading to better educational outcomes for students and, more broadly, safer workplaces in the EU (through the employment of competent OSH professionals).

The project will stimulate innovative learning and teaching practices by encouraging internalisation, adoption of new pedagogical approaches and by creating a supportive environment for innovation. The project aims to foster the development of new teaching and learning methods that are more engaging and impactful for students.

Additionally, the project focuses on the development of future competencies and capacity-building activities to prepare teachers, students, and organisations for the demands of the modern landscape. This involves the integration of new technologies and tools into the teaching and learning process, as well as the development of skills and competencies.

The core project approach involves the creation and implementation of joint collaborative learning (CL) strategies, such as project-based learning (PBL) into OSH curricula and the COIL approach. The project will support teachers in the process of developing and implementing collaborative learning strategies in close cooperation with the companies (industry) and enhance the learning of students through collaboration in international teams and fostering competences for the future such as communication, problem-solving or leadership.

It also aims to promote and strengthen a sustainable online community of OSH educators to support capacity building activities, exchange good practices, engage colleagues and create more opportunities for international collaboration.

What makes this project innovative

The project is committed to digital learning, international collaboration, and excellence in OSH HE. COIL itself represents an innovative pedagogical approach. The four key elements of the innovation are:

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First, the implementation of PBL and other forms of collaborative learning: This will provide a strong competence-oriented educational framework across multiple levels. Students and educators will have to train their intercultural skills to communicate with international partners, they will gain managerial skills to manage the project aims, timelines, and deliverables, they will enhance their problem-solving skills, critical thinking, research skills and they will learn to adapt theoretical knowledge to practical issues in an international setting.

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Second, the combination of online and face-to-face (hybrid/blended) teaching of OSH with strong emphasis on collaboration across fields, cultures, countries, and stakeholders (academia-industry-government): The COIL will enable both teachers and students to collaborate while being in different locations and it supports internationalisation at home, interconnectedness, and virtual border crossing and it will provide opportunities to realign and update existing curricula and will lead to more inclusive and personalised learning experience for OSH professionals and specialists.

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Third, the purposeful integration of digital technologies: The project recognizes the importance of digital technologies in teaching and learning and future labour markets. The emphasis on digitalization leads to forward thinking and will facilitate adoption of new emerging technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality, simulations, or large generative AI models.

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Fourth, this project focuses on sustainability, ethics, and green practices by designing activities promoting paperless documentation, a borderless community of educators and learners held online and/or mixed settings saving finances, time, and the environment.

The target groups of the project

There are two main target groups (participate in project training activities):

Teachers of OSH degree programmes and closely related fields of study, such as occupational hygiene and occupational medicine, human factors and ergonomics, and machine and process safety, from partner organisations.
Students of OSH degree programmes and closely related fields of study, such as occupational hygiene and occupational medicine, human factors and ergonomics, and machine and process safety, from partner organisations.

The secondary target groups (could benefit from project outputs and results) are as follows:

VET lecturers and other professional trainers (including OSH professionals and practitioners) in the OSH discipline and related fields.
HE teachers from other disciplines who are interested in the innovative COIL approach.
Project partners

VSB – Technical University of Ostrava (Czechia, Ostrava)

Instituto Politécnico do Porto (Portugal, Porto)

Universita ta Malta (Malta, Msida)

European University Cyprus (Cyprus, Nicosia)

Artesis Plantijn Hogeschool Antwerpen (Belgium, Antwerp)

Allgemeine Unfallversicherungsanstalt (Austria, Vienna)

Universidade do Minho (Portugal, Braga)

Associated partners

DGUV-ENETOSH

ABB s.r.o.

Ejendals

STANT Manufacturing s.r.o.

Trachta Safety s.r.o.

Funded by

This project „International Collaborative Learning in OSH“ nr. 2024-1-CZ01-KA220-HED-000257634 is funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.