As synthetic intelligence (AI) begins to reshape industries and redefines the worldwide job market, Unilab Schooling (UniEd) has partnered with Massachusetts Institute of Expertise (MIT)-based RAISE (Accountable AI for Social Empowerment and Schooling) and three main universities – College of Batangas, College of St. La Salle-Bacolod, and Cebu Institute of Expertise–College –to assist educators, college students, and business leaders perceive the advantages and dangers related to using AI. UniEd is the training pillar of the Filipino-owned Unilab Group, the nation’s chief in healthcare services.
The collaboration, highlighted within the just lately concluded collection of symposia on “AI and Past: Synthetic Intelligence and the Way forward for Studying and Work”, introduced collectively educators, business leaders, and AI consultants to debate the transformative position of AI in training and workforce improvement. The symposia have been held from February 24-28, 2025 in Batangas Metropolis, Bacolod Metropolis, Mandaluyong Metropolis and Cebu Metropolis.
Bridging the Hole Between Schooling and Employment
On the coronary heart of the initiative is UniEd’s mission to allow social mobility by high quality training. Atty. Jose Maria Ochave, President of UniEd, emphasised the group’s imaginative and prescient of guaranteeing that graduates should not solely outfitted with tutorial data but additionally possess the talents essential to thrive in a quickly evolving job market.
Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, Dean for Digital Studying at MIT and Director of the MIT RAISE Initiative, shared the transformative impression of AI on the workforce and confused the necessity for early training to arrange college students for an AI-driven future.
He defined the three ideas of Unilab Schooling – “First, we give attention to employment. Graduates of our accomplice instructional establishments ought to have related jobs and have the ability to pursue rewarding careers. Second, we accomplice as an alternative of compete with current universities, schools, and commerce faculties. Personal greater instructional establishments and commerce faculties need assistance from business given the a number of challenges they face. Third, as studying is aware of no boundaries, we have to make sure that we’re international not solely in our perspective but additionally in our ambitions.” He additionally defined that the first goal of UniEd is to allow social mobility by training by making ready college students to have enriching careers and to help them as they undergo their skilled lives. “Along with our accomplice HEIs and commerce faculties, we need to type a group that may proceed to assist one another and in addition discover methods to help the nation’s nationwide improvement targets.
As Unilab celebrates its 80th 12 months, Atty. Ochave mentioned that the imaginative and prescient which has guided them since their basis, reasonably priced and accessible high quality healthcare for Filipinos, will now additionally information them in UniEd – reasonably priced and accessible high quality training – in order that training can proceed to be a car for these keen to work laborious to assist their household enhance their social and financial standing.
The AI discussion board with MIT-RAISE Initiative was additionally held in College of Batangas, College of St. La Salle–Bacolod and Cebu Institute of Expertise-College, the place members of the college and college students mentioned with three MIT professors how they’ll make the most of AI effectively and responsibly so lecturers may train higher and learners be taught sooner. An analogous session was additionally held with officers of the Division of Schooling and campus administrators of Philippine Science Excessive Faculty System because the latter explores the potential integration of accountable use of AI into their curriculum. The session with DepEd and PSHS was facilitated by UP Nationwide Institute for Science and Arithmetic Schooling Growth and the Middle for Built-in STEM Schooling.
The Case for AI Literacy from Ok-12 to the Workforce
Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, Dean for Digital Studying at MIT and Director of the RAISE Initiative, underscored the necessity to combine AI literacy from an early age. Based on Breazeal, at the moment’s kids should not simply digital natives—they’re already AI natives as effectively.
Atty. Jose Maria A. Ochave, President of Unilab Schooling, underscored the group’s thrust in enabling social mobilization by training by making ready kids to have enriching careers.
“The subsequent technology is already interacting with AI of their every day lives, from social media algorithms to digital assistants. It’s crucial that they perceive how these applied sciences work, their moral implications, and the way they’ll use them responsibly,” she acknowledged.
MIT’s RAISE Initiative is on the forefront of AI training, working to make sure that college students throughout all disciplines—not simply these in STEM—are ready for an AI-driven future. The Day of AI, an MIT-developed curriculum, has already reached 1000’s of scholars globally, instructing them about AI purposes, ethics, and inventive problem-solving.
The collection of occasions organized by UniEd and MIT RAISE introduced collectively college students, training leaders, coverage makers and business practitioners to debate the huge potential of AI and its impression to the workforce.
Past Ok-12, the demand for AI abilities is skyrocketing within the workforce. Dr. John Paul Vergara, professor at Ateneo de Manila College, identified that whereas AI presents unimaginable alternatives, it additionally raises considerations about tutorial integrity, moral use, and the necessity for institutional insurance policies that steadiness AI’s potential with its dangers.
L-R: Former DOST Sec. Fortunato de la Peña; Dr. John Paul Vergara, Professor, Division of Info Methods and Pc Science, Ateneo de Manila College; and Roberto Batungbacal, former DOW Philippines Nation Supervisor, joined the panel dialogue on the Manila leg of the UniEd-MIT RAISE symposium.
Dr. Noel Cortez, Chief Working Officer of Unilab Schooling
“We should make sure that AI is used as an enabler relatively than a crutch. Universities have to redefine their method, integrating AI into curricula whereas sustaining the rigor of important considering and moral accountability,” mentioned Vergara.
Common AI: Democratizing Studying for All
Dr. Vijay Kumar, Senior Advisor to the President at MIT Open Studying, highlighted the significance of common AI training which focuses on making AI literacy accessible to all learners, no matter background or career.
“AI isn’t just for pc scientists. It ought to be for everyone- docs, artists, engineers, and policymakers. Our aim is to create inclusive, high-quality AI training that scales and adapts to totally different learners,” Kumar defined.
“AI is for everybody,” mentioned Dr. Vijay Kumar, Senior Advisor to the President at MIT Open Studying.
MIT’s dedication to open training has been evident because the launch of OpenCourseWare in 2000, making MIT’s instructing supplies freely obtainable on-line. Now, the main focus is on making AI training hands-on, sensible, and broadly accessible. Via partnerships with establishments like Unilab Schooling, MIT goals to localize AI coaching for the Philippine context, guaranteeing that graduates should not solely educated but additionally able to making use of AI in real-world eventualities.
Making ready the Workforce for AI-Powered Jobs
One of the urgent discussions in the course of the occasion was the impression of AI on employment. Whereas considerations about AI changing jobs persist, business consultants argue that the actual problem is making ready the workforce for brand spanking new roles that AI will create.
John Radovan, Director of Public Sector Enterprise Growth at MIT Open Studying, confused the necessity for proactive workforce planning. “AI is automating repetitive duties, however it’s additionally creating new, higher-value jobs. The secret’s to align training with business wants in order that employees are outfitted with AI literacy and problem-solving abilities that make them indispensable,” he mentioned.
Lily Marlene Hernandez-Bohn, President of College of Batangas
The Philippines, with its sturdy enterprise course of outsourcing (BPO), healthcare, and manufacturing sectors, has a singular alternative to place itself as a pacesetter in AI-enabled industries. Nevertheless, this requires a concerted effort from academia, authorities, and companies to offer reskilling and upskilling packages that put together employees for AI’s integration into their fields.
The Moral Crucial of AI
With nice energy comes nice accountability, and AI is not any exception. Moral issues have been a recurring theme all through the occasion, with consultants cautioning in opposition to unchecked AI deployment. Breazeal famous that biases embedded in AI techniques, whether or not in hiring algorithms or automated decision-making instruments, can perpetuate inequalities if not fastidiously managed.
Bro. Joaquin S. Martinez FSC, D. Min., President of St. La Salle Bacolod
“AI displays the information it’s skilled on. If the information is biased, AI shall be biased. We should prioritize accountable AI improvement, guaranteeing that it serves all of society, not only a privileged few,” she mentioned.
This sentiment was echoed by Fortunato de la Peña, former Secretary of the Division of Science and Expertise (DOST), who emphasised the necessity for insurance policies that promote moral AI use. “AI training isn’t just about technical abilities; it’s about cultivating a mindset of accountability, important considering, and innovation,” he remarked.
Aside from former DOST Sec. de la Peña, Roberto Batungbacal, former DOW Philippines Nation Supervisor, joined the panel.
AI-Enhanced Schooling Panorama
Dr. Noel Cortez, Chief Working Officer of UniEd, highlighted the significance of aligning AI training with the native business wants. He highlighted that whereas AI presents progress alternatives, the problem lies in guaranteeing that its advantages attain a broader phase of society.
Engr. Bernard Nicolas E. Villamor, President of Cebu Institute of Expertise-College
“The position of AI in training extends past automation. It’s about enhancing human potential, fostering important considering, and making ready college students not only for the day’s workforce, however for careers and challenges that don’t but exist. This requires a shift in how we outline studying outcomes, measure success, and equip educators with the talents to navigate an AI-enhanced classroom,” Dr. Cortez famous.
He additionally confused the position of educators in shaping an AI-ready workforce. “AI isn’t just a software for effectivity however a transformative drive that calls for useful integration, moral oversight, and strategic collaboration.”
The Philippines as an AI Schooling Hub
As AI continues to form the way forward for studying and work, the Philippines stands at a pivotal second. With its younger and tech-savvy inhabitants, the nation has the potential to change into a regional hub for AI training and expertise improvement.
UniEd’s dedication to increasing AI literacy, coupled with MIT’s experience in open studying, units the stage for a transformative shift in how training is delivered and the way careers are formed. By forging significant partnerships, investing in AI coaching, and prioritizing moral AI practices, the Philippines can’t solely future-proof its workforce but additionally lead within the AI-powered international economic system.
