MAPUA University has announced the debut of its Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Engineering degree this academic year, 2025-2026, the first undergraduate program of its kind in the Philippines.
AI Engineering involves teaching computers to think and learn like humans, enabling them to help solve everyday challenges. The field combines engineering, computer science, and data science to create intelligent systems, such as applications that can recognize faces, recommend products, aid in disease diagnosis, predict potential natural disasters, or manage traffic systems.
AI Engineering students hone skills in coding, mathematics, AI model development, ethical AI design, system integration, generative AI, AI governance and responsible innovation, enabling them to steer its growth in a digital-first world. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
The four-year, two-term AI Engineering program, comprising 205 credit units, covers both technical depth and academic foundation courses to develop globally competitive graduates who can optimize core AI technologies and lead in the development and integration of ethical and socially responsive AI tools and systems.
AI technologies have a transformative impact on addressing complex societal problems and driving industries worldwide. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 projected that AI specialists will be among the top 10 fastest-growing job roles through 2030. Also, AI and automation are expected to change 39 percent of workers’ core skills by 2030.
A “State of AI in the Philippines“ report cited by the think tank Philippine Institute for Development said that data aggregator Statistica found AI has been gaining more prominence and traction in the country with a projected value of $1.025 billion this year, and a potential annual growth rate of 27.75 percent through 2030.
In anticipation of this growth, the Department of Trade and Industry has rolled out the National AI Strategy Roadmap 2.0 to position the Philippines as a center of excellence in AI research and development. This entails creating a robust AI talent pool that can integrate advanced technologies in health care, agriculture, manufacturing, and disaster resilience — a task that globally recognized universities like Mapúa University are ready to fulfill.
“As industries increasingly integrate AI to enhance efficiency, resilience, and innovation, there is a pressing need for engineers who are not only adept in core AI technologies but also grounded in ethical and socially responsive design. Mapúa’s AI Engineering program reflects its commitment to producing globally competitive graduates who can lead in areas such as smart cities, health care innovation, environmental sustainability, and disaster risk reduction — sectors that are particularly vital to national development and regional progress,” said Mapúa School of Electrical, Electronics, and Computer Engineering dean Arnold Paglinawan.
Different competencies
Paglinawan pointed out that AI Engineering should not be confused with related specializations, such as Computer Science and Data Science, since it requires a different set of competencies and skills.
Mapúa’s AI Engineering degree, for instance, blends disciplines focused on building intelligent systems. This highly specialized field encompasses advanced topics such as machine learning, robotics, and natural language processing, which are beyond the scope of a traditional Computer Science course, which focuses on programming, algorithms, and software development.
Compared to Data Science, which analyzes, interprets and makes recommendations based on data, AI Engineering emphasizes designing systems that can learn, adapt and act independently. It merges elements of computer science, data analysis, and systems engineering to develop smart technologies, unlike conventional engineering, which is grounded in physical sciences and constructs tangible systems and infrastructure.
AI Engineering students hone their skills in coding, mathematics, AI model development, ethical AI design, system integration, generative AI, AI governance, and responsible innovation, enabling them to steer its growth in a digital-first world.
Mapúa’s interdisciplinary curriculum enables students to gain a broader perspective, with a solid grasp of core engineering principles. Learners have ample opportunities for research, capstone projects, hands-on training, and industry immersions. They are exposed to emerging technologies such as quantum computing and predictive and generative AI, ensuring they remain agile and relevant.
More importantly, students are instilled with the values of ethical AI development.
These competencies enable graduates to thrive as AI engineers, data scientists, computer vision or natural language processing specialists, AI systems architects, robotics, automation engineers, AI ethics and policy consultants, technopreneurs, and embedded AI developers.
They can work in various industries, including finance, business process outsourcing, health care, manufacturing, government, education, agriculture, retail and e-commerce. These numerous job roles disprove the misconception that artificial intelligence will eliminate jobs, since it creates new job roles that need human supervision, creativity and ethics.
The question is, what kind of person will thrive in a career in artificial intelligence?
Paglinawan said students who enjoy both math and computer science are curious, analytical and passionate about using technology to solve problems, and keen to explore how machines learn and function could thrive in the field.
Creativity, adaptability, strong logical and critical thinking skills, and a love for coding and building also increase their aptitude.
While AI is an emerging discipline still in its infancy stage, Filipinos can be at the forefront of using this new technology. Students who seize the chance to study it can help lead, shape and monitor its ethical integration into daily life.
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