The Game Developers Association of the Philippines (GDAP) and the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) sealed a partnership to promote collaborative research and joint project development.

GDAP is the country’s premier digital game development trade association which aims to represent the Philippines, while it enhances the industry to thrive by spreading awareness and engaging in academic linkages.

This shared venture seeks to advocate for student internships, along with exposure and immersion trips for the faculty and associates. It also wishes to endorse micro-credentialing of Benilde courses that are relevant to GDAP and the industry as a whole.

With GDAP’s expertise in the field, the cooperation intends to provide cooperative workshops, seminars, and conferences for the Benildean community as well as the public.

Aside from mentorship in classes, project development programs could also provide students with practical experiences that would eventually help support the initiatives of GDAP in the industry.

DLS-CSB chancellor Benhur Ong, MBA and GDAP president James Lo signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU).

During the event, Benilde Center for External Linkages director Oscar Sherlo Reyes and School of Management and Information Technology dean Joana Diñoso served as witnesses. Members of the International Game Developers Association-Gamers’ Union for Innovation and Leadership Development were likewise present.

“Ultimately, this partnership is not just about Benilde or GDAP. It is really about building the future of game development in the country,” noted Ong.

“We incorporated on a business journey to create the very first full game development education curriculum in the country,” Ong continued. “We started in 2009 under the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology with specialization in Game Design and Development.”

Benilde’s game design and development program took 15 years to be finalized.

“We continued this journey in 2015 with the introduction of the Bachelor of Science in Interactive Entertainment and Multimedia Computing,” Ong said.

Meanwhile, Lo recounted it was the first MOU the association has established with a school.

“I’m very happy that this organization is very serious about servicing the industry,” Lo said. “Your target is to bring new people. It will bring in students na kaunting training na lang, ready to go na.”

Lo underscored how the Philippine gaming industry blossomed through the years.

“There was even the time when I would get internships from different colleges and parents will call the office and ask me, ‘Sir, gumagawa po ba talaga ng games ‘yung anak ko diyan? Because it was so weird, strange, and new at that time,” he said.

“We’re not only equipping our students with the skills they need. It’s also about helping them engage with real-world challenges,” Ong remarked. “We hope that the aim is clear — to bring academia into the industry so that our students can be game changers.”