UP Inks Pact With Converge For AI, Cybersecurity Education

PRESS RELEASE – The University of the Philippines (UP) and Converge ICT Solutions have signed a three-year partnership aimed at preparing the next generation of Filipino digital leaders in artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies.

The memorandum of understanding (MOU), formalized last Sept. 30 at UP’s Quezon Hall in Diliman, Quezon City, establishes an academe-industry collaboration covering AI and machine learning, cloud computing, cybersecurity, smart manufacturing, and digital business transformation.

UP president Angelo A. Jimenez described the partnership as a turning point for Philippine higher education. “This alliance stands at the threshold of transformation where academic aspiration meets industrial innovation,” he said during the ceremonial signing.

Converge CEO and co-founder Dennis Anthony Uy said the collaboration aims to build a sustainable pipeline of Filipino technology leaders.

“Through strategic partnerships like this, we can ensure that Filipino talent not only competes globally but drives innovation domestically,” Uy said.

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) secretary Henry Aguda, who attended as a guest, lauded the initiative as a transformative tool to strengthen the country’s digital capabilities and innovation ecosystem.

The partnership will roll out in phases, starting with the “Future Forward Management Trainee Program,” a nine-month pilot designed to give graduating students intensive training in AI, product development, and digital technology.

Other planned initiatives include hackathons, speaker series, speed mentoring, and the creation of a “Converge Innovation Lab @ UP” to support research and real-world applications.

Beyond student training, the agreement provides for faculty-industry exchange programs and initiatives to extend opportunities to underserved students, ensuring broader access to digital transformation.

The partnership also taps into Converge’s international relationships, exposing students to global best practices in digital innovation.

UP vice president for digital transformation Peter A. Sy emphasized the broader implications for higher education.

“We’re not just preparing students for existing jobs — we’re empowering them to create new industries and solutions,” he said.

The agreement, subject to annual reviews and possible extensions, positions UP and Converge as partners in bridging the country’s digital skills gap and enhancing national competitiveness in the AI-driven global economy.