iACADEMY: Shaping the Future Workforce for AI and VR Job Opportunities

Left to right: iACADEMY School of Business and Liberal Arts Dean JV Padua, Senior High School Principal Paolo Noceda, Vice President for Academics Cecilia Sy, School of Computing Dean Kiko Napalit, and School of Design and the Arts Dean Jon Cuyson.

The deans and faculty of the renowned school for computing, business, and design education at iACADEMY successfully hosted a media day event on January 23 at its Makati campus. There, they showcased the school's top-notch tools, curriculum, and creative approach to game development, animation, and multimedia arts using artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, and more.

The news that iACADEMY, the pioneer of cutting-edge education for the previous 22 years, had emerged victorious in the Computing Track of the Huawei ICT 2023–2024 National Championship in December caught the attention of the media. The victory in the contest for young game creators had made it possible for iACADEMY to compete in the Huawei regional game creation competition in April in Jakarta, Indonesia, at a location that has not yet been announced.

iACADEMY, which boasts a 96% employment rate for its graduates, reiterated that a variety of career paths await its students studying computing and design. These include the highly sought-after fields of animation, multimedia arts, artificial intelligence, software engineering, web development, data science, cloud computing, and cybersecurity, in addition to the game development industry.

Vice President of Academics Cecilia Sy, Dean of Computing Kiko Napalit, Dean of Design and the Arts Jon Cuyson, Dean of Business and Liberal Arts JV Padua, and Principal of Senior High School Paolo Noceda attended the event, which celebrated iACADEMY's accomplishments to date in adopting a non-traditional approach to education.

iACADEMY School of Computing Dean Kiko Napalit talks to the media

The conference also addressed the impending employment prospects in augmented and virtual reality. After the demonstration, iACADEMY deans ably responded to inquiries from the press regarding the school's goals, job placements, and post-graduation career options.

According to Kiko Napalit, dean of the School of Computing, "Filipinos excel in design, which is the first reason we can succeed in game development." Our pupils are producing designs that are on par with those from around the world. The Philippine game development industry will reach new heights with the help of iACADEMY and adequate backing from the public and private sectors.

Since instructors at iACADEMY are members of GDAP (Game Developers Association of the Philippines), we will be at the forefront of game creation. Our talented student body in game development boasts a large number of published titles, including Unspoken, Bayani, and Far Away From Home.

We recently entered the Huawei ICT (Information and Communications Technology) 2023–2024 competition. One of our teams entered and won the national championship. They are currently traveling to Jakarta, Indonesia, to take part in the regional tournament.

Dean of the School of Design and the Arts Jon Cuyson: "Virtual and augmented reality is a rapidly expanding field on a global scale. At iACADEMY, we help students get ready for the nation's next job prospects. We shape them and provide them with the knowledge they require as educators. In this manner, students will be ready for life in the real world.

We incorporate virtual and augmented reality into the curriculum design process, drawing inspiration from major players in the animation industry as Team App Animation Studios, Toon Boom Animation, Top Peg Animation, and Creative Studio.  They will be present to make whatever changes are necessary.  Every term, we have meetings with them to review the updates to our curricula and make sure we stay up to date.

Professor Hamil Buyco conducts VR demonstration

We always have the latest information. We encourage cooperation between schools and maintain communication with other local schools as well as the Commission on Higher Education (CHEDER). Our iACADEMY Cebu creates numerous chances for cooperation outside of Manila. As far as teaching pupils AR and VR goes, we are the forerunners and leaders.

Vice President for Academics Cecilia Sy: "At first, iACADEMY had to overcome the difficulty of standing out in a world where traditional universities dominated the academic scene. Unfazed, we accepted the challenge and embarked on a journey of creativity and expertise.

Offering specialized programs was initially met with skepticism, but thanks to strong industry partnerships, we not only survived the criticism but also triumphed over it. Over the course of the last 20 years, iACADEMY's success has been shaped by these key elements: our dedication to innovation, our strategic partnerships, and the invaluable support of our media partners. 

Today, we are at the forefront of education, fostering an environment where creativity, technology, and knowledge converge to shape the future. Our goal now goes beyond achieving a 96% job placement rate; instead, we strive to have a global impact, preparing students for success not only locally but also for a world where opportunities are endless."