Cebu Confab to Tackle Education Trends, Strategies

The Institutes for Research, Innovation, and Scholarship (IRIS) will hold a two-day conference here early next month where leaders of universities and the education industry can discuss trends and strategies for the learning curriculum.

Dr. Napoleon Juanillo Jr., IRIS founder and convenor, said in a press conference Thursday that presidents of 27 universities and colleges, high-ranking government officials and some industry leaders in the country are expected to attend the gathering dubbed “Universities 4.0” on July 4-5 at Radisson Blu Hotel here.

“Universities 4.0 will serve as a platform for leaders from universities, government, and industry as well as technopreneurs, researchers, engineers, and scientists to discuss trends and strategies in cultivating innovation and incorporation of Industry 4.0 in Philippine education and learning curriculum,” Juanillo said.

With the theme “Ushering in the New Age of Enlightenment and Collaboration in Philippine R&D,” the event is aimed at encouraging in-depth conversations, strategic collaborations, and partnerships among the country’s top university and industry leaders in exploring research and development (R&D) projects.

“Universities 4.0 also aims to develop innovative educational programs that will equip young and old Filipinos with the digital skill sets needed for the Industry 4.0 era,” said Juanillo.

Industry 4.0, or the fourth industrial revolution, is a name given to the current trend of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies, which include cyber-physical systems, cloud computing, and cognitive computing.

Activities lined up in the conference, co-organized by Cebu Technological University (CTU) and Dassault Systemes, include keynote presentations, panel and round-table discussions, and bilateral dialogues among industry leaders and scientific and educational experts.

Dr. Rosein Ancheta Jr., CTU president, said the event will give university leaders, government officials, and industry delegates the opportunity to learn and galvanize action in preparing the workforce of the future.

“The event will hopefully result in strategic and creative pathways that will address the country’s digital skills gaps and unleash the enormous potential of the next generation of Filipinos,” Ancheta said.

Dassault Systemes – Asia Pacific South academic lead Eric Chow, for his part, said the event is very timely as “skills needed in the future must be developed now.”

Dassault Systemes, a French company with a regional headquarters in Singapore, will also showcase its manufacturing solutions through its 3DEXPERIENCE Playground during the conference.

The 3DEXPERIENCE Playground is an interactive demonstration of Dassault Systemes’ innovative solutions that will help shape the future of the country’s key growth industries, such as aviation and aerospace engineering, smart electronics, agriculture, automotive, robotics, and digital technology.

Universities and colleges expected to participate in the Universities 4.0 conference are CTU, Batangas State University, Bicol University, Caraga State University, Central Luzon State University, Central Mindanao University, Centro Escolar University, Ifugao State University, Malayan Colleges of Laguna, Mapua University, Mariano Marcos State University, Mindanao State University (MSU) – Iligan Institute of Technology, MSU-Naawan, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Technological Institute of the Philippines, University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines, University of the Philippines (UP) System, UP-Mindanao, UP-Visayas, Visayas State University, Western Mindanao State University, University of the East, Cebu Institute of Technology – University, Cebu Normal University, University of San Carlos, University of San Jose – Recoletos, and UP-Cebu. (PNA)