"They gained confidence and allowed their creative wings to fly": Fashion consultancy project with Nottingham Trent University and ReTuna
COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) projects aren’t a field trip or a semester abroad. They represent global education for the now: accessible, scalable, and deeply human.
In SPARK 14, faculty and learners from 8 COIL projects share their experiences and show how COIL is one of the most quietly transformative forms of education at Humber Polytechnic.
In partnership with Nottingham Trent University and ReTuna, the world’s first recycling mall, this COIL project offered students an authentic consultancy challenge rooted in sustainability, innovation, and real-world impact.
Faculty leads Rossie Kadiyska, PhD, Humber Polytechnic and Mary Ann Ball, Nottingham Trent University, share their experience leading this COIL project.
What motivated you to engage in an international collaboration for this project? How does this align with Humber’s vision of Reimagining Learning?
Rossie Kadiyska: This COIL collaboration was driven by a shared commitment to sustainable fashion and applied learning. Partnering with Nottingham Trent University and ReTuna, the world’s first second-hand shopping mall, gave students an authentic consultancy challenge rooted in sustainability, innovation, and real-world impact—perfectly aligning with Humber’s Builders of Brilliance vision.
In what ways did this experience help students develop future-ready skills for the workforce?
Rossie: Students developed future-ready skills such as systems thinking, cross-cultural communication, design research, and digital storytelling. They also practiced project management, strategic branding, and stakeholder engagement—core competencies for today’s global workforce.
Can you share a breakthrough moment where students from different backgrounds worked together in a way that surprised you?
Rossie: At first, students were focused on finding the “right answer” to impress the client. But once they began pitching their early concepts to ReTuna and received encouraging, constructive feedback, everything shifted. They gained confidence, let go of rigid expectations, and allowed their creative wings to fly.
What were some of the most significant cultural or logistical challenges your students faced? How did they collaborate and problem-solve to overcome them?
Rossie: Students had to manage time zone differences, varying digital platforms, and communication styles. Using shared tools such as MS Teams, Miro, and WhatsApp, they built routines for check-ins, delegated tasks effectively, and supported one another across geographies.
The Building Brilliance (BB) vision emphasizes Deeper Partnerships. How has this project strengthened Humber’s ties with international institutions?
Rossie: This project deepened our institutional ties with NTU, opening pathways for future Collaborative Online International Learning projects, research partnerships, and co-published student showcases. It also established shared rubrics, collaborative grading formats, and mentorship strategies across campuses.
Did you notice any shifts in students’ confidence, adaptability, or leadership skills as they navigated this cross-border experience?
Rossie: International projects simulate the future of interdisciplinary work—blending fashion, sustainability, technology, and storytelling. These real-world briefs prepare students to co-create across borders and sectors while building a network of global peers.
What was your initial impression of working with Humber faculty and students? How did they approach collaboration differently?
Mary-Ann Ball: Working with Humber faculty and students was collaborative and student-centred. The team brought a strong industry focus while maintaining flexibility, inclusivity and openness to creative exploration. From the beginning, students were encouraged to think boldly and present with confidence.
How did this partnership push your students to think beyond their usual academic and cultural perspectives?
Mary Ann: This collaboration pushed our students to step outside their local contexts and consider how sustainability, branding, and communication operate globally. They had to translate their ideas into cross-cultural, market-aware strategies and adapt their narratives for an international audience. It deepened their empathy and broadened their worldviews.
The modern workforce is increasingly global. How do you think projects such as this help students prepare for international careers?
Mary-Ann: These projects are ideal preparation for international careers. They simulate consultancy work, require cross-border coordination, and ask students to manage timelines, feedback, and expectations across cultures—key skills in today’s workplace.
What were some unique skills or strengths that Humber students brought to the table?
Mary-Ann: Humber students demonstrated excellent communication and visual storytelling. Their confidence in pitching and practical understanding of consumer engagement and branding added real depth and dynamism to the group projects.
Looking forward, how do you see the role of global education partnerships evolving in higher education?
Mary-Ann: Global education partnerships will become essential pillars of experiential learning. Projects like this one not only support skill development but build community, resilience, and intercultural fluency—all of which are vital in today’s interconnected world. These collaborations will shape the next generation of globally minded professionals.
Student Perspectives
Thi Minh Chau Nguyen (Claire) and Dianoshiya Dorothy Clement, Fashion Management Postgraduate Certificate, Humber Polytechnic and Anju Kamalus, Ayda Safaralipour, Divya Bharathi Ulaganathan and Golnoush Shahrokhi, fashion students at Nottingham Trent University, share their experiences participating in the COIL Project.
What was your biggest “aha!” moment during this collaboration?
Thi Minh Chau Nguyen (Claire): My biggest “aha!” moment was when I realized how the individual tasks contributed to the final outcome— pitching an idea to the client, ReTuna. At first, we were required to analyze the client’s business model, gather information to create a system map of the fashion industry, and identify a specific issue within the industry, including its causes, symptoms, and underlying factors. I didn’t understand the purpose of these tasks or how they would help us generate an idea for ReTuna’s anniversary event, which was the final deliverable. Gradually, I came to understand that marketing strategy isn’t just about storytelling—it also needs to be grounded in the business model’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as internal and external factors, all of which could be identified through the analysis and mapping. Our team’s idea might not have been the most innovative, but it was solid, well-connected to ReTuna’s needs and context, and ultimately helped us win.
How did working with international peers push you out of your comfort zone—academically or personally?
Dianoshiya Dorothy Clement: Collaborating with team members from different colleges, countries and cultural backgrounds challenged me to step outside my usual ways of thinking and communicating. At first, it was unfamiliar territory: we had different academic styles, perspectives, and approaches to problem-solving. But as we worked together, I began to recognize the unique strengths each person brought—whether in research, design, communication, or strategy. Instead of staying in our individual lanes, we learned to blend our talents like pieces of a puzzle.
What did you enjoy most about collaborating with Humber students?
Anju Kamalus: I really enjoyed the fresh perspectives the Humber students brought in. Working together pushed me to think differently and made our ideas much stronger.
What was the most unexpected or surprising thing you learned about working with Humber students and Canada?
Divya Bharathi Ulaganathan: Exposure to different work practices emphasized the importance of adaptability and cross-cultural communication in professional settings.
Thinking about your future career, how did this experience help you develop skills that employers are looking for?
Ayda Safaralipour: For my career goals, which are mainly about working in marketing teams, this experience really helped me improve my communication and teamwork skills.
What’s one challenge you and your Humber teammates faced that taught you a valuable lesson?
Golnoush Shahrokhi: We have learned that by working collaboratively and having specific plans and systems mapping, we could offer a much better project, and several minds and experiences are much better than just one.