DOST okays 12,957 applicants to online data analytics, AI courses
By Dhel Nazario
The Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) has approved 12,957 applications out of a total of 13,278 to the Smarter Philippines through Data Analytics R&D, Training and Adoption (SPARTA) Program.

In partnership with the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), the Analytics Association of the Philippines (AAP), and Coursebank, Project SPARTA offers free online education to enable interested individuals with essential data science and analytics knowledge and skills to efficiently manage, analyze and interpret data.
Those approved were on Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics.
Of the learning pathways that the scholars have chosen, the top three pathways were: data scientist at 33.83 percent, data associate at 25.16 percent, and data analyst at 17.44 percent.
A total of 4,277 of the scholars finishing their courses are already in their data science track. The scholars came from industry (particularly the BPO sector), academe, and government.
Capstone projects for the trainees can be done as team projects. They will develop data analytics solutions or platforms for institutions such as LGUs, national government agencies, and industry groups.
Last May, DOST-PCIEERD urged qualified Filipinos to maximize their time at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic by enrolling to Project SPARTA.
At that time there were already 10,700 scholars under Project SPARTA.
Most of the scholars are from ages 18 to 34 and are pursuing Data Scientist and Data Associate pathways. 58 percent are working for private companies, 17 percent are from government agencies, and the rest are students and faculty members. Interestingly, 57 percent of the scholars are female.
“It is our goal to upskill 30,000 Filipinos to be capable of handling big data generated by the different government agencies as well as other entities in the country. We put weight on this initiative as we believe data science can ultimately change and boost government processes, for the benefit of each Filipino; and even solve some of our country’s major problems,” said DOST-PCIEERD executive director Dr. Enrico Paringit.
“Filipinos can benefit from learning about data science in at least two ways: one, through the employment opportunities for our data scientists, and two, by harnessing their expertise in solving socio-economic problems at the national and local levels, as well as creating public and customer value through new products, improved services, and evidence-based policies,” said Dr. Alan Cajes, DAP senior executive and Project SPARTA leader.