Manila, July 17 -- Senator Joel Villanueva on Friday urged state universities and colleges (SUCs) to prioritize funding for artificial intelligence (AI) training for faculty members, saying the rapid rise of generative AI has allowed many students to outpace their teachers in using the technology.

Speaking at the 2026 Philippine Association of State Universities and Colleges (PASUC) Annual Convention at the SMX Convention Center, Villanueva said continuous faculty upskilling should become a priority as AI transforms higher education and the future workforce.

"Sometimes, students are already ahead of their teachers, especially in generative AI," he noted.

Villanueva clarified that the widening gap is driven by the speed of technologica...