Integrating Data Science into the Tradition of Philippine Graduate Education
The Asian Institute of Management integrates data science with case-based learning to address business challenges in the Philippines.
Dr. Jikyeong Kang, who assumed the role of president at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) in January 2015, planned to retire at the end of her second term in 2025.
“That was a tough decision because I was going to retire at the end of October last year,” she said, “but I had a series of conversations with our board members, and they said your vision has not been 100% materialized.”
“They convinced me that it’s not the right time to change midcourse in terms of why we started on many of the initiatives we have.”
In this March 24 interview withThe Business Manual, she talks about AIM’s goals, as well as how it integrates new disciplines while maintaining its core teaching method.
How the Asian Institute of Management Innovates Beyond Its Legacy
The Philippines was in a different economic situation in 2015 than when the school was established in 1968.
Neighboring countries like Singapore and China had already invested in their own higher education systems between the 70s to 90s to fuel their economic ambitions, which shifted the regional landscape.
The National University of Singapore, for instance, was formed in 1980 via a merger, with Nanyang Technological Institute opening a year later. Both were founded as Singapore’s economy moved toward high-tech and services.
China, meanwhile, launched Project 211, which targeted over 100 universities for upgrades, and Project 985, which aimed to create world-class universities by coursing billions into a group of institutions that include Peking University.
The Philippines, in contrast, experienced an economic crisis in the mid-80s. The decade also marked the dawn of the brain drain, as local schools began to produce professionals for the global market.
"Not everything [was] working in our favor," Dr. Kang said.
“When I arrived at AIM, it had an amazing legacy,” she said. “On the other hand, there were some things that we weren't really actively developing to not only keep our legacy and tradition and heritage, but also introduce new ideas and learn from others.”
Even tradition needs to go through constant innovation, she said.
The Role of Case-Based Learning in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
AIM’s foundational teaching method is Harvard-style, participant-centered, and case-based.
Harvard-style refers to the Case Method, where students trade passive lectures for high-pressure debates centered on solving real-world business problems.
At AIM, class participation is mandatory and accounts for 30-50% of a student’s final grade.
“This pedagogical approach of participative case studies gives AIM an edge,” Dr. Kang said. “You cannot just hide in a classroom and learn from your professors or from a textbook or from your classmate.”
“That’s all very important, but you cannot just be watching what’s happening…You cannot be a bystander.”
Critical thinking and active participation are skills that are in line with this age of artificial intelligence (AI), she added.
Dr. Jikyeong Kang, president of the Asian Institute of Management. Photo by Kim Montes.
How AIM Pioneers the Data Science Master's Program in the Philippines
The first order of business during Dr. Kang’s first term was to look at where the market was headed, what the school’s strengths were, and how it could play a role in filling the market gap.
Frequently Asked Questions
To move away from bystanders in the classroom, substitute traditional lecturing with the Case Method. This "Harvard-style" pedagogical approach replaces passive listening with mandatory, high-pressure debates centered on real-world business problems. By making class participation account for 30-50% of the grade, you ensure that students learn to solve problems in a participative environment, creating a texture of active engagement that is vital in the age of AI.
The secret is to ensure that data science is not treated as a "pure science" relegated to a basement, but as actionable intelligence. By integrating statistics and coding with business logic, the goal is to produce data scientists who speak the language of the private sector. This "secret ingredient" allows technical experts to sit at the decision-making table, ensuring their innovative ideas are translated into solutions for real-world development problems.
A frequent mistake is remaining stagnant by only protecting tradition without actively developing new ideas. To fix this, institutions must embrace constant innovation—even when initial proposals (like a Data Science Master's) are met with skepticism. Avoid the "brain drain" trap by evolving the curriculum to fill current market gaps, ensuring the legacy remains relevant to the shifting economic landscape of the region.
To store a wealth of perspectives, institutions should aim for a high international faculty and student diversity rate (targeting 30-35% international students). Exposure to different cultures, food, and ways of doing things acts as a "parental act of love" that teaches students what works globally. This cross-pollination ensures that when students face local problems, they have a global library of innovations to "tweak" and implement effectively.
The core ingredients for climbing global rankings are research output, high citation counts, and robust funding. Beyond these metrics, the ultimate "base" must be a commitment to using education as a tool for social mobility. By expanding programs (from 3 to 15) and redeveloping facilities to accommodate a growing student population, an institution creates the necessary infrastructure to change a nation's trajectory through technology and innovation.
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