iPeople Inc., the education joint venture of the Yuchengco Group of Companies and Ayala Corp., is expanding its partnership with Coursera, one of the world’s largest and best known online learning platforms, to triple student impact, reaching 45,000 learners annually – up from 15,000.
As one of Coursera for Campus’ top three customers globally, iPeople is advancing its mission to equip students and faculty across its six universities and colleges with industry-recognized skills, micro-credentials, and Generative AI (GenAI)-powered learning, preparing them for an AI-driven job market.
Building on a successful collaboration that began in 2019, this strengthened partnership expands Coursera’s impact across Mapúa University, Mapúa Malayan College Laguna (MMCL), Mapúa Malayan College Mindanao (MMCM), Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC), University of Nueva Caceres (UNC), and National Teachers College (NTC). Students can now earn 20-30% of their academic credits through Coursera courses, further embedding industry micro-credentials into their degrees.
To date, over 38,000 students at iPeople schools have amassed nearly 260,000 enrollments, and clocked over 760,000 learning hours, gaining critical skills in AI, data, cybersecurity, project management, and leadership. iPeople also received Coursera’s Global Maximizing Impact Award in 2024, recognizing its leadership in integrating technology, skills-based learning, and AI-powered education at scale.
Filipino universities are key to unlocking the country’s next major economic opportunity, with AI expected to contribute PHP 2.8 trillion to businesses in 2030. Closing the digital skills gap through targeted training could add PHP 809 billion to annual GDP. Microsoft Work Trend 2024 Index shows 68% of business leaders prioritize AI skills over experience when hiring. As industries evolve, higher education must keep pace. iPeople’s integration of AI and micro-credentials aligns with CHED’s vision for flexible, skills-based learning pathways, ensuring that Filipino graduates earn globally recognized industry certifications that enhance their employability both locally and internationally.
“iPeople is committed to providing a globally competitive, AI-enabled and skills-based education to as many Filipinos as possible,” said Alfredo I. Ayala, President of iPeople. “AI-powered education is transforming how students learn, faculty teach, and institutions prepare graduates for the future of work. Our strengthened partnership with Coursera will better equip our students, faculty, and alumni with the skills and credentials to thrive in an AI-driven digital economy, preparing them for success anywhere in the world.”
Mapúa University has achieved the second highest number of enrollments in GenAI courses among Coursera for Campus partners in Asia. Along with equipping graduates with key AI skills, iPeople is now also embedding Coursera’s industry leading AI-powered tools across all institutions to enhance teaching, personalize learning, and scale interactive education.
“iPeople Inc. has been a trailblazer in leveraging online learning to integrate cutting-edge skills and micro-credentials into their curriculum, redefining how universities prepare graduates for a digital-first, globalized world,” said Karine Allouche, Global Head of Enterprise at Coursera. “AI has the potential to widen gaps, but it also presents a powerful opportunity to expand access and bridge skill divides. We’re proud to strengthen our collaboration with iPeople as they scale their efforts to equip thousands of students with job-aligned skills and credentials, helping them stand out to employers, excel in their careers, and set new standards for innovation in higher education.”
With this expanded partnership, iPeople and Coursera reaffirm their commitment to fostering a world class education system that not only bridges the skills gap but also positions the Philippines as a leader in AI-powered learning and workforce development.
iPeople is a publicly listed Yuchengco-Ayala education partnership which encompasses over 70,000 students across the country. iPeople’s 6 schools include leading STEM university Mapúa and its subsidiaries, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Laguna in Cabuyao City, Mapúa Malayan Colleges Mindanao in Davao City, and fully online Mapua Malayan Digital College, as well as Naga based University of Nueva Caceres (the largest private university in the Bicol region), and National Teachers College (the first private college in the country to offer Education courses). Mapúa University has been ranked in the prestigious Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025 as the #1 university in the country for Engineering, Computer Science, and Physical Sciences for the second year in a row.
Meantime, Coursera was launched in 2012 by Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. It is now one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with 168 million registered learners as of December 31, 2024. Coursera partners with over 350 leading universities and industry leaders to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, and degrees.
