Cooperative and Collaborative Learning: Innovation and Internationalisation in Higher Education

Abstract

Tertiary education students face a world of local and global challenges, marked by constant transformations that are essential for their personal and professional growth. In response, universities must continuously revise and update their strategic plans to outline specific goals and encourage educational experiences that are interactive, personalised and student-centred. Such environments prioritise student agency, allowing learners to actively shape their educational journeys. This paper, emerging from the workshop for the Academic Innovation Manual (AIM) of the European Reform University Alliance (ERUA), provides a contemporary analysis of innovative active methodologies identified across the eight universities of the Alliance. A particular focus is placed on collaborative and cooperative learning approaches, which have been implemented across a range of disciplines. These methodologies, applied in onsite, online, and hybrid learning formats, demonstrate how multidisciplinary teamwork, peer collaboration, and engagement with external partners foster deep learning and professional readiness. Through case studies in the specific fields of Architecture and Engineering, and Arts, and Humanities at ULPGC - one of the universities in the ERUA Alliance- this paper contributes to ongoing dialogues about enhancing higher education practices, aligning them with global challenges, and preparing students to thrive in a rapidly evolving, intercultural, multilingual, and interconnected world.