CEBU CITY – As artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning and automation reshape technical work, engineering graduates face a challenge that goes beyond passing professional licensure examinations: acquiring the skills to apply their knowledge in an increasingly technology-driven workplace.
For universities, the task is to prepare students not only to meet the standards of board examinations but also to adapt to evolving industrial requirements, work across disciplines and make decisions that protect public safety and serve communities.
Engr. Susana Tan, chair of the Electronics Engineering Department of Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U), said they have incorporated emerging technologies into elective subjects as part of its efforts to keep its curriculum abreast of developments in electronics.
‘We have elective subjects, and these elective subjects already integrate those trends like AI, machine learning, and even advanced automation,’ Tan said.
She added that they also work with industry partners to provide on-the-job training, giving students opportunities to gain exposure to professional environments and practical applications, she said.
The approach reflects a wider challenge for engineering education as technological advances change the competencies required in the workplace. Technical foundations remain essential, but graduates must also be prepared to learn new systems, apply their knowledge to real-world problems and work with professionals from other disciplines.
In Central Visayas, engineering positions appear alongside manufacturing and service-sector occupations in the region’s reported job vacancies, providing a snapshot of the range of employment opportunities available to jobseekers.
According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Region VII’s Labor Market Information bulletin dated October 16, 2026, listed 155 vacancies for electrical engineers and 150 for mechanical engineers in data from its PESO Employment Information System (PEIS) and PhilJobNet for October 9 to 15.
Electrical engineering ranked third among the 10 listed occupations, while mechanical engineering placed fourth.
Preparing engineers for work beyond the classroom
Dr. Evangeline Evangelista, dean of CIT-U’s College of Engineering and Architecture, said the university aims to develop graduates whose competencies extend beyond preparation for licensure examinations.
She identified transdisciplinary thinking, ethical conduct, professional competence, nationalism, an outcomes-oriented mindset and lifelong learning among the attributes the university seeks to instill in its graduates.
Transdisciplinary learning, she explained, means graduates should be able to contribute beyond the specific discipline in which they were trained and participate in activities that address broader community needs.
Excellence carries professional responsibility
Rohan Ardiente placed first nationwide in the October 2026 Electronics Engineers Licensure Examination, earning a rating of 95.80 percent. The result followed his second-place finish in the March 2026 Electronics Technician Licensure Examination, making him a two-time top placer in professional licensure examinations within the year.
His latest achievement brought the university’s tally of first-place finishes in professional licensure examinations to 98, according to CIT-U.
The university also recognized mining engineering graduates Alliah Mae Diginion, who placed fourth, and Kurt Bhen Casero, who ranked eighth in the October 2026 Mining Engineers Computer-Based Licensure Examination.
The Mining Engineering Department was also recognized among the top six performing schools in the October 2026 examination.
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While these accomplishments demonstrate academic achievement, CIT-U Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Corazon Evangelista Valencia said professional distinction also carries responsibilities that extend beyond personal and institutional recognition.
‘Every achievement has a visible height and an unseen depth,’ Valencia said, referring to the preparation, sacrifices and sustained effort behind the graduates’ accomplishments.
She emphasized that electronics engineers help support systems on which communities increasingly depend, making reliability, safety and responsible innovation central to their work.
Mining engineers, meanwhile, must consider the safety of workers, the welfare of communities and the responsible stewardship of natural resources.
‘Your fields are different. Your duty to the public is shared,’ Valencia told the graduates.
She urged them to exercise sound judgment, seek guidance when confronted with problems beyond their experience and raise concerns when safety requires it.
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