Minjung Seo
SUNY Oswego, United States
Dr. Minjung Seo is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Promotion and Wellness at SUNY Oswego. Her work focuses on health promotion program development, implementation, and evaluation, with a commitment to inclusive and community-centered approaches. Dr. Seo actively leads international education initiatives, including a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) partnership with The Hague University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. Through COIL, she promotes global engagement and cross-cultural collaboration in health promotion. Her teaching and research emphasize practical strategies for fostering wellness across diverse populations.
“Engaging in COIL has been one of the most rewarding aspects of my teaching. It opens a window for students—and for myself—into different cultures, perspectives, and ways of thinking about health promotion. Watching students build confidence, develop cultural sensitivity, and form genuine international connections reminds me why global learning matters. While coordinating across time zones and academic systems can be challenging, the benefits far outweigh the hurdles. COIL transforms a classroom into a global community, where learning becomes deeper, richer, and truly collaborative.”
Project Information
International Collaboration Overview: COIL Project Led by Dr. Minjung Seo
International Partner(s):
Faculty collaborators: Maria van der Sluis (The Hague University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands)
Jessica Harris (SUNY Oswego, USA)
Institution(s) and Country(ies):
State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego, United States
The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THUAS), Netherlands
Length of COIL Project(s):
Typically 6 to 8 weeks
Year(s) COIL Project(s) Took Place:
Summer 2018: Initial development of the Health Promotion Across Borders Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Program by Dr. Minjung Seo (SUNY Oswego) and Tonnie Genugten (THUAS)
Spring 2019: Official launch
Continued annually: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and ongoing in Spring 2025
Program Areas Involved:
Health Promotion and Wellness (SUNY Oswego)
Nutrition and Dietetics (The Hague University of Applied Sciences)
Project Focus:
Enhancing global competency and cultural self-efficacy among undergraduate students
Promoting intercultural understanding through collaborative online health promotion projects
Integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technology to analyze and compare global health behaviors, nutrition, and physical activity
Producing collaborative AI-enhanced video projects showcasing international health promotion strategies
Learning Objectives for Students:
Build intercultural communication and digital collaboration skills
Develop cultural sensitivity and competence in working across borders
Explore the use of AI tools in international health promotion contexts
Share cultural insights and wellness strategies through digital storytelling and multimedia presentations
Publications Related to the COIL Project:
Seo, M., Harris, J.M., & McKeown, J. (2024). The Framework of Initiating, Implementing, and Evaluating the Health Promotion Across Borders Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Program between the US and the Netherlands. ICERI2024 Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.21125/iceri.2024.0904
Harris, J.M., & Seo, M. (2023). Cultivating Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Experiences for Undergraduate Health Educators in the Classroom. Education and New Developments. https://doi.org/10.36315/2023v2end112
Harris, J.M., Seo, M., & Genugten, T. (2022). Gaining Global Competency Skills and Cultural Self-Efficacy Through a Cost-Effective Global Learning Experience Between American and Dutch Students. https://doi.org/10.21125/inted.2022.1643
Harris, J.M., & Seo, M. (2024). Student reflections on enhancing cultural awareness in health education specialists: Insights from a Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) experience. Health Education & Behavior, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.1177/23733799241230499
Harris, J.M., Seo, M., & McKeown, J. (2021). Global Competency Through Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). Polytechnic University of Valencia Congress, Seventh International Conference on Higher Education Advances. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd21.2021.13080
Project Summary: Dr. Minjung Seo’s Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects connect undergraduate students from SUNY Oswego’s Health Promotion and Wellness program with students from The Hague University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands. The initiative, titled Health Promotion Across Borders, was developed in 2018 and officially launched in Spring 2019. It has continued annually through 2025.
The COIL projects are designed to build global competency, intercultural communication skills, and cultural self-efficacy among students by engaging them in collaborative online projects focused on international health promotion. Students work in international teams to explore topics such as global nutrition, physical activity behaviors, and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in health promotion.
Over the course of 6 to 8 weeks, students participate in structured virtual meetings, complete joint assignments, and produce final collaborative projects, such as AI-enhanced video presentations. The projects emphasize cultural sensitivity, digital communication, and creative problem-solving in addressing public health challenges across borders.
https://www.oswego.edu/news/story/oswego-dutch-students-team-health-promotion-projects
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KEeGszOwyXAyY_HXzb70TySmXmtgsm7X/edit?tab=t.0