This abstract outlines the conceptualization and ongoing development of an innovative curriculum module for an International Business degree program, specifically targeting crucial Future Skills in cross-cultural communication. Central to this initiative is a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) module. Designed in close collaboration with Japanese partner university this COIL experience enables students to actively reflect on, identify, and propose solutions for typical international business communication challenges. This student-driven process serves as a foundational step for future immersive learning environments.

Within this COIL Students are tasked with collaboratively identifying common international communication problems, (e.g customer conflicts, effective discussions with superiors, or negotiations), considering diverse cultural perspectives. For each identified problem, students explore and propose solutions utilizing various communication methods. The core activity involves international teams creating two distinct video role-plays: one depicting a problematic situation and a subsequent video demonstrating one or two proposed solutions, explicitly tailored to different cultural contexts (e.g., a Western vs. a Japanese approach). This collaborative process, especially with our Japanese partner, facilitates profound intercultural reflection and critical analysis of diverse cultural communication strategies.

As this COIL module is in its developmental phase, empirical results are not yet available. However, the conceptual framework anticipates significant outcomes. This student-led process will yield a rich, authentic repository of culturally specific communication challenges and practical solutions. To evaluate the concept, 10 Business Administration students were surveyed on learning objectives, methodology, desired competencies, feasibility, and workload providing initial feedback on practical applicability and acceptance.

This unique, student-generated content will form an empirical basis for the subsequent development and implementation of advanced, avatar-based learning modules within a VR environment. The process itself will significantly enhance students' intercultural communication competence, analytical skills, and collaborative abilities.

This innovative COIL module represents a significantly advances in preparing International Business students for the complexities. By actively engaging students in identifying, analyzing, and creatively solving intercultural communication problems through collaborative video production, it provides invaluable practical experience and fosters deep cross-cultural understanding. Moreover, this module serves as a critical preliminary phase for developing future cutting-edge immersive learning environments, demonstrating how student-generated content can lay the groundwork for advanced educational tools and exemplifying the powerful potential of COILs for Future Skills acquisition.

Keywords: COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning), Cross-cultural communication, Future Skills, International Business education.