To strengthen digital innovation and enhance the integration of emerging technologies in education, the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs (OVPAA) in collaboration with the Learning and Development Unit of the Human Resource Management Office (HRMO), and College of Information and Communications Technology (CICT) of the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) conducted a two-day workshop titled “Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Theories, Applications, and Practical Digital Tools” on June 24β25, 2026, at the NEUST Mini Convention Hall, Sumacab Campus.
The workshop aimed to enhance participants’ understanding of artificial intelligence and its applications in higher education while equipping faculty members and academic professionals with practical digital tools and strategies for integrating AI into teaching, learning, research, and institutional innovation.
In his message, Dr. Arnold Dela Cruz, Dean of the College of Information and Communications Technology, emphasized the importance of equipping faculty members with the knowledge and skills needed to maximize artificial intelligence in education.
While acknowledging concerns that AI may transform the future of teaching and learning, Dr. Dela Cruz stressed that it should be viewed as a tool to complement and enhance educators’ work rather than replace them.
Meanwhile, Dr. Feliciana Jacoba, Vice President for Academic Affairs, underscored the importance of preparing educators for the rapid integration of artificial intelligence in higher education.
The Vice President encouraged faculty members to embrace the technology, understand its capabilities, and apply it responsibly to improve instruction, research, and student learning.
βWe cannot avoid the presence of artificial intelligence in education. What we need to do is adapt to it, learn how to use it, and make it useful in our teaching and everyday lives,β she said.
Dr. Jacoba also emphasized that educational institutions must continue to evolve alongside technological advancements while ensuring that artificial intelligence is utilized ethically, responsibly, and effectively.
University President Dr. Rhodora Jugo also graced the workshop and highlighted the growing significance of artificial intelligence in higher education, and encouraged faculty members to embrace technological innovation as part of their professional practice.
Drawing from her observations, she noted how AI has transformed the way students produce academic work and stressed the need for educators to understand these technologies and guide students in using them responsibly.
βThe challenge is no longer about finding information. The challenge is about learning how to use it wisely,β she emphasized.
The two-day training featured lecture-workshops facilitated by CICT faculty members NiΓ±o Herrera, MSIT, Alexander Cochanco, MSIT, John Phillip Medina, MSIT, and Andrew Caezar Villegas, MSIT, who discussed various theories, applications, and practical digital tools for integrating artificial intelligence into higher education.
The activity forms part of NEUST’s continuing commitment to digital transformation and academic excellence by empowering educators with innovative technologies that promote effective instruction, research productivity, and responsive educational practices.
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