CALSADA R.S.D.: A Bridge Between Europe and the Philippines to Transform Postgraduate Legal Education
A new and ambitious project is paving the way for legal education in the Philippines. CALSADA R.S.D., a Filipino-European initiative, aims to strengthen the quality of postgraduate legal education by promoting excellence in research, digitalization, and sustainable connectivity among law schools.
The name CALSADA, inspired by the Filipino word derived from the Spanish “calzada” — used to designate Roman roads that connected regions and populations — symbolizes the project’s goal: to create a collaborative pathway between the EU and the Philippines, paved with research and sustainable connectivity.
The project addresses persistent challenges, including low quality in legal education, an excessive focus on bar exam preparation, gaps in research, limited digitalization, and inadequate infrastructure that restricts online learning and international collaboration.
To overcome these barriers, CALSADA engages key stakeholders, including the Legal Education Board, the Commission on Higher Education, and various Filipino and European legal institutions. Its main objectives are:
- To develop a National Framework for Quality and Sustainable Connectivity, promoting research-driven postgraduate programs with digital accessibility;
- To strengthen the capacities of authorities and legal institutions, from program design to interdisciplinary research execution, advancing digitalization and sustainable connectivity within law schools.
The project also seeks to enhance the relevance of Filipino legal institutions in implementing the EU’s Global Gateway strategy in the ASEAN region, paving the way for a more innovative and connected legal education.
