Margie Markland

The University of the Philippines (UP) Cebu is launching the first Artificial Intelligence (AI) graduate program based outside Luzon in August 2025, marking a significant step in regionalizing access to advanced science and technology education.


The Master of Engineering in AI, officially introduced during an online information session on June 10, is a two-year professional degree designed for engineers, scientists, and technical professionals seeking to specialize in the development of autonomous AI systems.

The program was created through a partnership between UP Diliman’s College of Engineering and UP Cebu’s College of Science, and was approved by the UP Board of Regents in 2021.

In his remarks during the launch, UP President Atty. Angelo Jimenez emphasized that the Philippines must scale its AI capability in the face of growing automation and data-driven transformation across industries. Citing McKinsey projections, he noted that over 70 percent of global companies are expected to adopt AI tools by 2030.

Capstone projects shared during the launch included AI systems for forest monitoring, audiobook generation with emotional nuance, and predictive maintenance for aircraft engines.

A week later, the official Facebook page of the UP Office of the Vice President for Digital Transformation announced the program on June 23, drawing hundreds of reactions and shares, and sparking conversations among aspiring graduate students across the country.

For some students, the announcement presents new possibilities for growth in a field that once felt distant.

Johanes Marc Basalo, an incoming second-year BS Statistics student at UP Cebu, admitted he initially dismissed the program when he first saw it posted.

“Initially, I brushed it off, thinking it didn’t align with my interests or passions,” he said. “However, after taking a closer look, I realized that it intersects with my current course, especially in big data and analytics.”

That overlap, he said, made him reconsider his earlier impression and sparked a genuine interest in the field, and he now plans to pursue the degree after completing his undergraduate studies.

Basalo also shared that he has long considered further studies, and at one point even thought about enrolling in a second undergraduate program related to engineering.

“But learning that this is offered as a master’s program and one that aligns well with my current academic track, I see it as both a challenge and an opportunity for growth,” he added.

To support full-time students, the program is backed by the Department of Science and Technology’s Engineering Research and Development for Technology (DOST-ERDT) program.

Scholars under ERDT receive full tuition coverage and a 30,000-peso monthly stipend in exchange for pursuing full-time studies and conducting research aligned with national development goals.

The Master of Engineering in AI is part of the university’s broader efforts to decentralize access to high-level STEM education and build expertise in technologies shaping the future.

Designed with working professionals in mind, the program follows a hybrid evening class format, running synchronously from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays to Saturdays, with occasional in-person sessions in Cebu.

The curriculum requires a strong foundation in mathematics and programming, and offers courses in areas such as machine learning, robotics, optimization, and AI ethics.

It also features electives in natural language processing, biomedical informatics, and environmental AI, all geared toward solving real-world problems through interdisciplinary and inclusive innovation.