Davao del Sur State College (DSSC) co-hosted the 4th Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Conference – TRANSCEND 2026, with the theme “Beyond Borders: Building Sustainable Global Classrooms through COIL and Translational Partnership,” held on March 12-13, 2026, at San Pedro College (SPC), Davao City.
The conference showcased the insightful sessions coming from international speakers, among these sessions were by Dr. Hope Windle, Director of the SUNY COIL Center in New York, who focused on the discussion on scaling COIL and strengthening global institutional collaboration, Dr. Kimberly Lacomba, Associate Professor of Global Leadership at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, College, Indiana, USA, who shared perspectives on expanding access and workforce readiness through COIL, and Dr. Rachel Woods of Baylor University, Texas, USA, who emphasized the importance of the role of relational COIL in cultivating ethical global leaders within multicultural learning environments.
Representing DSSC during the conference was Prof. Jarsey Krim A. Taub, College COIL Coordinator, serving as a faculty panel and bringing the institution’s initiatives in international collaboration and partnerships. Prof. Taub attended the conference on behalf of the Director for International Affairs and Relations Office (IARO), Dr. Ana Marie J. Matalines, exemplifying the college’s strong commitment to international engagement and cooperation.
The DSSC delegation were composed of faculty representatives from the different colleges, among these were Prof. Nida Belono-ac from the College of Mathematics, Arts, and Sciences (CMAS); Prof. Kim Llego from the College of Business Education and Governance (CBEG); Prof. Dhominic Arendain from the College of Information and Digital Sciences (CIDS); Prof. Andrew Paul Palero from the College of Agriculture and Related Sciences (CARS); Prof. Rodceal Malinao from the College of Teacher Education (CTED); and Prof. Lou Danielle Lofranco from the DSSC-Sulop Extension Campus.
The conference shed light on the importance of international academic collaboration and showed its strong support towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnership for the Goals, in promoting a more inclusive and connected learning environment across borders. In participation in initiatives such as TRANSCEND 2026, DSSC continues to expand its horizons in international partnerships for more opportunities and meaningful learning experiences in the global platform for both faculty and students.
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