Saint Mary’s University proudly announces that two of its faculty members from the School of Engineering, Architecture, and Information Technology—Dr. Melanie G. Gurat, Research Center Director, and Engr. Carina Mallilin, Officer-in-charge, School of Engineering and Technology—have successfully completed the prestigious online executive program “Strategies for Accountable AI” offered by the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Their participation was made possible through the Commission on Higher Education’s Higher Education Upskilling and Study for the Advancement of Staff and Faculty (CHED–HUSAY) Grant for 2025.

The program, conducted from August 22 to November 12, 2025, spanned nine weeks of intensive training designed to equip participants with essential competencies in responsible and ethical AI adoption. As artificial intelligence increasingly transforms education, industry, and governance, the course addressed critical topics such as algorithmic accuracy, transparency, fairness, bias, discrimination, global AI regulatory frameworks, future-of-work implications, data privacy, copyright, misinformation, manipulation, and accountable AI practices.

Throughout the program, Dr. Gurat and Engr. Mallilin completed all live sessions, self-paced modules, weekly assignments, and a Capstone Project on AI Impact Assessment. They interacted with world-renowned scholars including Professors Lynn Wu, Hamsa Bastani, Sonny Tambe, Stefano Puntoni, Scott Snyder, and program lead Kevin Werbach. This comprehensive training strengthened their ability to identify limitations and risks in AI systems, anticipate ethical and legal concerns, evaluate accountability mechanisms, and apply international standards for responsible AI governance.

Their successful completion of this international program under CHED HUSAY 2025 enhances SMU’s institutional capacity in digital transformation, ethical innovation, and AI policy development. The knowledge and competencies they gained will support the university in crafting responsible AI guidelines, building faculty digital readiness, and ensuring that AI-enabled teaching, research, and administrative functions align with global best practices and ethical principles.

Saint Mary’s University congratulates Dr. Melanie G. Gurat and Engr. Carina Mallilin for this remarkable achievement and for their continued commitment to advancing excellence, innovation, and ethical leadership in the era of artificial intelligence.

SDG4-QualityEducation 
SDG9-IndustryInnovation

Written by:  SEAIT