SEN. Joel Villanueva urged state universities and colleges (SUCs) to prioritize funding for faculty training in artificial intelligence (AI), warning that the rapid pace of technological change is allowing students to outpace their professors in using generative AI tools.
Speaking before SUC presidents and officials during the 2026 Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (Pasuc) Annual Convention on Wednesday at the SMX Convention Center, Villanueva said continuous upskilling of educators is essential to keep higher education relevant.
"Sometimes, students are already ahead of their teachers, especially in generative AI," said Villanueva, who chairs the Senate Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education.
The senator clarified that the growing gap is not a reflection of teachers' competence but of the unprecedented speed at which AI technologies are evolving.
"It's not because our teachers lack skills, but because technology is advancing very quickly," he said, noting that the lack of sustained training and professional development for faculty remains one of the country's policy gaps in AI adoption.
Villanueva called on SUCs, government agencies, and lawmakers to work together to ensure dedicated funding for AI training programs for faculty members.
"I hope we can work together to find ways to fund AI training for our SUC faculty," he said.
The senator linked the need for AI readiness to the broader challenge of preparing graduates for an increasingly unpredictable labor market.
Drawing on author Simon Sinek's concept of an "infinite mindset," Villanueva cited the declines of Nokia and Kodak as examples of industry leaders that failed to adapt to disruptive technological change despite their previous dominance.
"Are we preparing our students for jobs that do not yet exist, technologies that have not yet been invented, and problems that have not yet emerged?" he asked.
Villanueva also recalled management theorist Peter Drucker's 1997 prediction that university campuses would become "relics" within 30 years. With that timeline approaching in 2027, he said the more important question is not whether universities survived but whether they remained relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Describing today's environment as "VUCA" — volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous — the senator said higher education institutions must become more proactive in anticipating future challenges.
He cited the inclusion of a P2-million Futures Thinking Research Program for selected SUCs in the 2026 General Appropriations Act, a funding initiative he and Sen. Pia Cayetano advocated during budget deliberations. The program is part of the government's record P1.3-trillion education budget, equivalent to 4.4 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
According to Villanueva, the research initiative aims to help state universities strengthen strategic planning and develop long-term approaches to emerging technological, economic, and social trends.
"In such a world, the future will not wait for us," he said. "Our state universities and colleges must anticipate change, shape it, and lead it."