In a bold move to modernize education in the Philippines, Mapúa University, a premier engineering and technological institution in the Philippines, has announced the launch of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital classrooms set to redefine the learning experience of their students starting August this year.
This initiative, developed in collaboration with Cisco as part of its Country Digital Acceleration (CDA) program in the Philippines, UGNAYAN 2030, marks a significant shift from traditional classrooms to a more dynamic, flexible, and inclusive digital learning environment.
The introduction of digital classrooms aligns with Mapúa’s innovative Tri-X (triple experience) teaching and learning framework. This framework empowers students to choose their mode of participation — whether face-to-face, synchronous, or asynchronous learning—catering to diverse learning preferences and schedules. This flexibility is poised to break down traditional barriers in education, making learning more accessible and personalized.
“The future of education is here,” Dr. Dodjie S. Maestrecampo, president and CEO of Mapúa University said during a media tour of the digitalized classrooms. “Our learning modalities at Mapúa are breaking barriers by creating limitless opportunities for personalized, accessible learning. We are excited for this next chapter of our partnership with Cisco to enable students to achieve better learning outcomes with greater flexibility and personalized learning with our digital classrooms.”
“This is a big step toward our vision to foster sustainable socio-economic growth through innovation, digital transformation, and lifelong education,” Maestrecampo further stated.
A look at Cisco’s CDA program
Cisco’s CDA program, UGNAYAN 2030, aims to bolster the Philippines’ digital resilience by addressing gaps in connectivity, collaboration, and cybersecurity. This strategic partnership between government, industry, and academia is crucial in accelerating the country’s national digital agenda.
“Technology is transforming the way we work, learn, and live,” shared Zaza Soriano-Nicart, managing director of Cisco Philippines. “We are excited to support Mapúa University’s transformative journey to become a leading innovation hub that utilizes cutting-edge teaching and learning methods under UGNAYAN 2030.” “By helping the university leverage AI and inclusive collaboration tools in the classroom, we are closing the learning divide, enhancing student access, and ensuring quality education for every student nationwide so that no one gets left behind,” she added.
The digital classrooms, supported by ICT solutions integrator Microdata, are equipped with Cisco’s AI-powered collaboration tools and smart cameras, creating an engaging, secure, and hybrid learning experience. During an exclusive media preview, Mapúa showcased the capabilities of these tools:
- Webex Boards: Enable students and teachers to join video meetings, serve as digital canvases for whiteboarding, and annotate shared content.
- AI-Powered Features in Webex Suite: Optimize speakers’ voices, automatically crop videos of remote participants for better visibility, and offer real-time closed captions, making classes more accessible.
- AI-Generated Meeting Summaries: Provide highlights, chapters, and action items in real time, helping students catch up on missed content.
- Meraki Cloud-Managed Smart Cameras: Enhance classroom security with wide-angle, fixed-focus lenses that provide panoramic coverage, even in low lighting.
Webex’s enterprise-grade security ensures that all communications are encrypted and secure, verifying every learner and protecting every device and browser.
The digital classroom
Currently, Mapúa has established five digital classrooms: three at the Intramuros Campus, offering courses in Engineering, Architecture, Liberal Arts, and Athletics, and two at the Makati Campus, providing courses in Information Technology, Media Studies, Business, Health Sciences, and Nursing. These classrooms will officially open for the upcoming academic year, facilitating course lectures, extracurricular activities, and inter-campus planning sessions.
The introduction of these smart classrooms is a significant step towards Mapúa’s goal of becoming a full-fledged smart campus. Looking ahead, the university plans to leverage these digital classrooms to extend education beyond borders, fostering an internationalized educational experience for its students. By integrating advanced technology and flexible learning options, Mapúa University is enhancing the quality of education and setting a precedent for other institutions in the Philippines and beyond. This initiative underscores the importance of digital transformation in education, ensuring that learning remains relevant, inclusive, and accessible in the digital age.
