To ensure that the advancement in technology would not disrupt several traditional jobs, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is stepping up efforts to retool and upgrade the skills of some 30,000 workers under its Smarter Philippines through Data Analytics, Research and Development, Training and Adoption (SPARTA).
DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Peña said the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and automation prodded them to launch the Project SPARTA in 2019, which seeks to upgrade the the skills of an initial 30,000 workers in data science, data analytics, AI, and other related fields by 2022.
"We hope that through this program, we could retool those who will be affected by the global growth of AI,” he said in a a recent virtual presser organized by the National Task Force Against COVID-19 Sub-Task Group on Economic Recovery.
He expressed concern about a study conducted by tech giant Cisco and Oxford Economics showing that about 1.1 million jobs in the Philippines will be replaced due to advancement in technology by the year 2028.
Under the program, around 30,000 slots for training have been made available to interested individuals who wish to take up data science, data analytics, AI, and other related fields as the labor market shifts more to digital technology, he said.
Similar to Coursera, SPARTA has generated 23,000 enrollees, 6,000 of whom have finished their respective courses, dela Peña said.
The program is implemented by the Development Academy of the Philippines together with the Analytics Association of the Philippines, and DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).
Dela Peña explained those who completed the program are required to take capstone projects to benefit the government.
Capstone project simply refers to a multi-faceted project, like a thesis, that can serve as a culminating academic and intellectual experience or exercise for the students, he noted.
According to the DOST Chief, there are now five capstone projects approved for the 2020 implementation under SPARTA.
The projects are the Isabela State University/Cauayan City - OCD flood alert system for Cagayan River; Public Employment System for IloIlo, Traffic management for San Fernando City, La Union; Garbage Collection System in Dagupan City; Market Stall Collection System in Urdaneta City.
"Other proposals are still for refinement. A capstone project is a final requirement of the training to enable the student to apply learnings from the course and deliver outputs that can be used by an institution,” Dela Peña said.