Over the past decade, SoFA Design Institute has grown into one of the country’s most recognized institutions for creative education, focused on preparing students for careers in design.

On March 11, 2026, the school introduced a new academic partnership with IE University in Spain. The university, which has campuses in Madrid and Segovia, is known for its programs that integrate design, business, and innovation within an international learning environment.

The partnership was presented during an event held at the SoFA Design Institute campus at The Proscenium Retail Row in Rockwell, Makati City. The program brought together members of the design community for conversations on creativity, collaboration, and the evolving landscape of global design education.

During the event, Andrea Pagani, senior associate director of Business Development for Undergraduates in Southeast Asia and Oceania at IE University, introduced the university and outlined the academic opportunities that may be available to SoFA students through the partnership. He then highlighted the wide scope of work and career paths students can pursue after completing their courses, including public service design, fashion PR and marketing, brand consultancy, and more.

“The creative industry has a huge impact on the world,” he shared. “We are talking about three percent of the global gross domestic product (GDP) coming from the creative industry. We know that 50 million jobs are in the sector, and roughly $2 trillion in revenue comes from this industry.”

Andrea was joined by SoFA co-founders Loralee Baron Soong and Amina Aranaz-Alunan. The collaboration aims to provide SoFA students with opportunities to participate in international programs such as internships, exchange programs, summer courses, and design tours in Spain. These experiences are intended to give students exposure to different learning environments and design perspectives.

In an interview with Manila Bulletin Lifestyle, Amina shared that this year, some members of the faculty and students will travel to Spain for an immersive experience at IE.

“This type of partnership reminds us that design education does not stand still. It evolves through dialogue, collaboration, and the willingness of institutions to look beyond their own borders,” she said. “It is a mutual exchange of culture and values, finding ways to enrich each other, the students, and the communities we serve.”

As design education becomes increasingly shaped by global collaboration, initiatives such as academic partnerships allow students to encounter different creative approaches and cultural contexts. For many young designers, these experiences can broaden both their academic and professional outlook.

The partnership also reflects the growing connections between design institutions in the Philippines and schools abroad, creating more avenues for exchange and dialogue within the creative community.

For more information about SoFA Design Institute and the partnership, visit sofa.edu.ph or follow the school on Facebook and Instagram at @sofadesigninstitute.