BERLIN, GERMANY–During his visit to Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) on 05 July 2023, DTI Secretary Fred Pascual held a meeting with Professor Ulrich Weinberg where they discussed significant outcomes for the future of design thinking in the Philippines. In the meeting, HPI provided a comprehensive briefing to Secretary Pascual and the Philippine delegation to shed light on the inner workings of HPI and the diverse curriculum offered to both private and public sector organizations. This exchange of knowledge is aimed to bolster support for design thinking in the country.
HPI offers innovation-oriented and practice-based studies with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in “IT-Systems Engineering” and master’s degrees in Digital Health, Data Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Software Systems Engineering. In addition, HPI offers a supplemental study program in the innovation method of Design Thinking.
The HPI also took this opportunity to update Secretary Pascual and his team on the progress made regarding the proposed partnership between HPI and the Design Center of the Philippines (DCP). This partnership aims to establish a design thinking academy in the Philippines, poised to elevate the nation’s design thinking capabilities, starting with the initiation of the Philippine Design Academy + Policy Lab in 2024. The program will commence with a capacity-building initiative for innovation hub managers from Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers (RIICs). The training will begin with a three-day session in Germany, exposing participants to the renowned D-School in Potsdam, followed by subsequent training sessions to be held in the Philippines.
The meeting between Secretary Pascual and Professor Weinberg also represents a significant step forward in advancing design thinking initiatives in the Philippines. The collaboration between HPI and the DCP is expected to foster innovation, drive economic growth, and equip Filipino professionals with the necessary skills to tackle complex challenges and prepare them to be globally competitive.
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