De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) continues to strengthen its international partnerships in the creative arts through an exploratory meeting with Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCAD-U) last July 29, 2024. The online discussion was attended by Sherlo Reyes and Paula Roxas from the Center for External Linkages (CEL), Francis Tady from the School of New Media Arts (SNMA), and Meera Margaret Singh of OCAD University.
The meeting focused on the potential implementation of the International Art Collaboration (INTAC) program through Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL)—a model that connects students and faculty across borders to work on joint creative and academic projects.
At OCAD U, the INTAC program typically runs from September to December or as a 4–5-week intensive session between January and February 2025. The collaboration culminates in a final exhibition or a digital/print magazine, showcasing the collective output of participating students. While travel is not required, students are highly encouraged to engage in cross-cultural exchange and creative collaboration.
Under the proposed structure, students from both institutions will work synchronously for one to two hours weekly and continue their projects asynchronously using Miro boards and other collaborative platforms. The course carries academic credit at OCAD U, and Benilde is exploring ways to offer equivalent credit for its students.
Benilde’s Photo Publishing and Creative Research courses, offered during the first and second terms, were identified as strong candidates for integration into the INTAC program. Faculty from both institutions will also co-evaluate and provide feedback on student outputs, fostering a dynamic learning environment grounded in artistic dialogue and cultural exchange.
This collaboration reaffirms Benilde’s commitment to expanding global learning opportunities for its students, nurturing creativity and innovation through meaningful international partnerships that bridge art, design, and technology.
