The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) awards Php 5-million to Cebu Technological University (CTU) for the iLab as an Innovation Laboratory for Global Education and Digital Citizenship project. Following a consortium of 11 State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), with the lead of Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU), CTU ushers Internationalization at Home through iLab.
The iLab project supports the use of technology not only to improve students’ technological skills but also cross-cultural communication and international capacities. The idea of integrating technology in pedagogy and instruction, research, and extension which leads to internationalization is the aim of this project.
Moreover, the internationalization at Home concept asserts that students can enjoy mobility, albeit virtual, while being “at home” (at the university).
On September 5, 2018, CTU President Dr. Rosein A. Ancheta, Jr. with the Chair for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration, Prof. Kent Marcial Catubis (in lieu of the Director for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration) signed the MOU on the consortium with the 11 SUCs: Tarlac Agricultural University, Bulacan State University, Caraga State University, Cavite State University, Cebu Technological University, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, Central Mindanao University, Guimaras State College, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, President Ramon Magsaysay State University, and Western Mindanao State University.
Moreover, on January 6, 2019, Engr. Ronald Galindo (the OIC Director for Internationalization and ASEAN Integration at that time) joined the formal signing of MOA between the SUC Consortium and CHED for the iLab as an Innovation Laboratory for Global Education and Digital Citizenship project.
Finally, the Php 5-million budget fund to support the establishment of iLab in CTU was approved by CHED on December 23, 2019.
The pandemic which started in 2020 even intensifies and affirms the necessity for the iLab which promotes Collaborative Online International Education (COIL). This could lead to CTU’s dream of being a SMART university.
The Php 5-million budget includes software, equipment, LMS, and training.