The "Strengthen and Promote Academic Agility, Resilience, and Knowledge Exchange through Collaborative Online International Learning" (SPARK-COIL) project, was launched through a kick-off conference from 19 to 21 February 2025 at the Ateneo de Manila University. This groundbreaking Erasmus+ project, a first for a Philippine consortium, brought together the five Ateneo Universities - Ateneo de Manila University (Project Coordinator), Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Naga University, Ateneo de Zamboanga University, and Xavier University; and their Europea partners: Spain - University of Alicante; and Poland – Akademia WSB.
The conference featured insightful presentations from distinguished speakers, interactive workshops, and engaging discussions that highlighted the innovative approaches to globalizing education. Engr Gerardo Doroja, Director of XU Strategic Quality Management Office and the project leader for Xavier University, along with Dr Edralin Manla, Dean of XU School of Education, and Dr Shiella Balbutin, Director of XU Office of International Cooperation and Networking, represented XU at the conference. They joined their partners to lay the groundwork for this educational innovation.
The conference started with a project management meeting where partners, including Xavier University, presented their work packages and planned for the next activities. The university actively participated in these discussions, contributing to the strategic direction of the project. A key component of the project is the needs analysis, where XU, alongside the other participating institutions, shared valuable insights through infographic posters and the presentation of focus group discussion results, helping to shape the project's focus.
Other than formal meetings, the conference cultivated a strong sense of collaboration and shared learning. A highlight was the practical exploration of a COIL lab implementation during the site visit to the UP Los Banos iLab (Innovation Laboratory). The culminating hybrid conference, with its impactful keynotes and partner-driven workshops, drew over 100 online attendees, showcasing COIL's transformative power in international education. As a key partner, Xavier University is now poised to lead in advancing collaborative international online learning, broadening access to global education for students and educators throughout the Philippines.
About the project:
SPARK-COIL, an Erasmus+ Capacity Building for Higher Education (CBHE) project, marks a first for the Philippines. It is the only CBHE project proposed by a Philippine consortium, bringing together all five Ateneo Universities in the country: Ateneo de Manila University (Coordinator), Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan, Ateneo de Davao University, Ateneo de Naga University, and Ateneo de Zamboanga University. European partners include the University of Alicante (Spain) and Akademia WSB (Poland).
