Category: News

West Visayas State University (WVSU) President Dr. Joselito F. Villaruz opened the second day of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Responding through AI for Societal Empowerment (RAISE) 2026 national summit on Feb. 26, reaffirming WVSU’s commitment to responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence in higher education.

Held at the Iloilo Convention Center, the three-day CHED RAISE summit is headed by CHED, in partnership with Northern Iloilo State University (NISU) and WVSU. The event gathers university leaders, faculty members, students and industry partners to align academic programs with the demands of an AI-driven economy.

A key highlight of Day 2 was the plenary discussion “AI Requirements in the Industry,” which examined workforce competencies, infrastructure readiness and cross-sector collaboration needed to meet emerging industry standards. Panelists included Jonathan Defensor De Luzuriaga, president and CEO of Spring Valley Tech Corp.; Engr. Fulbert Woo, president of the Iloilo Chamber of Commerce and Industry; and Frankie Antolin, executive director of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines. The discussion was moderated by Jaime Noel Santos, president of Thames International Business School.

The session underscored the urgency of equipping graduates with AI, analytics and digital competencies that respond directly to industry needs — a message that carries direct implications for curriculum development, instruction and student preparation at WVSU.

Parallel breakout sessions provided sector-focused discussions for faculty members, administrators and students.

For teachers, Engr. Orland Tubola of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines led “AI for Cooperatives,” highlighting AI applications in cooperative management and community-based enterprises. In the afternoon, Dr. Jassiel Padios of Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology, delivered “Capacity Building on Fisheries AI-Mediated Technologies,” emphasizing AI applications in fisheries research and extension. Engr. Lester Phil Crus of Bulacan State University also presented the “Executive Program on Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things for SUCs and LUCs (BulSU-HUSAY)”, outlining structured capacity-building initiatives for state and local universities and colleges.

For administrators, Samu Samson of International Business Machines Corp. led “Setting Up the Infrastructure for an AI Program,” focusing on institutional readiness and scalable implementation. Dr. Oliver Malabanan of De La Salle University discussed “Designing Curricula Aligned with the Philippine Skills Framework for Analytics and AI,” emphasizing outcomes-based alignment with national standards. Dr. Jaime D.L. Caro of Technofactors Inc. delivered “Developing a Research Agenda in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” centering on strategic research planning responsive to emerging AI developments.

Students attended “Automating Intelligence: The Power of RAG in Document Processing,” presented by Dr. Gregg Victor Gabison, country manager of Raybiz Technologies Inc., which explored retrieval-augmented generation and its practical applications. Malt John Vianney Solon, a senior computer science student of Cebu Institute of Technology University, led “Machine Learning Made Simple,” translating foundational machine learning concepts into practical, real-world applications. Another session, “AI-Powered Career Services for Improved Graduate Employability,” was delivered by David Padgett of SeeMeSOL, highlighting AI-driven platforms designed to enhance career guidance, skills matching and employment pathways.

As the summit enters its final day, WVSU continues to play an active role in convening academic and industry leaders, strengthening policy dialogue and advancing the responsible and inclusive integration of AI across Philippine higher education.

West Visayas State University (WVSU) is co-hosting the three-day CHED Responding through AI for Societal Empowerment (RAISE) 2026 national summit, which opened Feb. 25 at the Iloilo Convention Center and brings together higher education leaders, policymakers, industry partners and students from across the country.

Mounted by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in partnership with Northern Iloilo State University (NISU) and WVSU, the summit centers on the theme “Empowering Minds, Transforming Communities through Responsible and Inclusive AI.” The gathering highlights how artificial intelligence can be integrated responsibly into teaching, learning and institutional governance.

For the WVSU community, the summit positions the University at the forefront of national conversations on AI policy, workforce readiness and innovation in higher education.

A key highlight of the opening plenary was the presentation of the National AI Upskilling Roadmap: Building a Competitive National AI Workforce, identified as a “Big Bet for the Future” under the National Education and Workforce Development Plan 2026–2028. Sherwin M. Pelayo, executive director of the Analytics Association of the Philippines, presented the roadmap and moderated a fireside chat on AI in basic education, higher education and lifelong learning.

The panel included CHED Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis; CHED Undersecretary for Strategic Management Dr. Ronald Mendoza; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Jose Francisco “Kiko” B. Benitez; Private Sector Advisory Council Chairperson Alfredo Antonio Ayala; and Analytics Association of the Philippines President and Co-founder Michelle Alarcon. Discussions focused on strengthening collaboration between government and industry to ensure AI adoption in education remains responsible, inclusive and aligned with national development goals.

The opening program also featured the ceremonial turnover of the CHEDx 2024 Coffee Table Book and a digital ribbon-cutting of exhibition booths, followed by an exhibit tour and media briefing on CHED’s AI initiatives and policy directions for higher education institutions.

Participants later joined parallel breakout sessions tailored to administrators, faculty and students.

University leaders convened for a Presidents’ Forum titled “Crafting an AI Policy for Higher Education,” aimed at developing a cohesive framework for responsible AI integration across Philippine higher education institutions.

For educators and administrators, Asst. Prof. John Richard M. Esguerra of Batangas State University led a session on data science and cybersecurity, emphasizing data literacy and cyber resilience in academic institutions. Another session delivered by Mark Benlor Sy of National Teachers College explored AI-enabled learning design and delivery, focusing on integrating analytics and AI tools into curriculum development and assessment.

Students attended “Think Before You Prompt: A Framework for Responsible AI-Supported Learning,” delivered by Dr. Dave E. Marcial of Silliman University, which underscored the ethical and critical use of AI in academic work. A separate session by Dr. Ace Lagman of FEU Institute of Technology introduced core concepts and applications of artificial intelligence, machine learning and deep learning.

The summit runs until Feb. 27, reinforcing WVSU’s role as an active partner in shaping national policy and practice on ethical and inclusive AI in education.

West Visayas State University (WVSU) is preparing for one of its largest admission examinations in recent years, with about 14,000 to 15,000 applicants expected to take the WVSU Admission Examination (WVSU AE) on March 8, 2026.

The update was announced during the University’s Feb. 23 flag-raising ceremony at Jubilee Park, led by the Registrar’s Office headed by Ms. Mardy Ledesma.

Ledesma said examination permits are currently being sent to applicants through their registered email addresses, with distribution continuing until Feb. 27. She added that a call for faculty and staff members who wish to serve as proctors will be issued within the week, as the University mobilizes personnel to accommodate the large number of examinees.

The ceremony also highlighted upcoming international engagements. Prof. Edel Carmela Subong-Csoka, director of the International and Local Linkages Office, announced that additional French students and a professor from Belgium are expected to participate in forthcoming academic and cultural exchange activities at WVSU. She also introduced Ms. Eugenie Moret, a French graduate student who will undertake a two-month exchange program at the University.

Moret, who is completing a master’s degree specializing in teaching abroad, shared her aspirations for the exchange. “During my time here, I hope to better understand Filipino cultural values, multilingual practices and how knowledge circulates in this context,” she said.

The final flag-raising ceremony for February underscored both the University’s preparations for the upcoming admission cycle and its continuing international partnerships.