UP to launch medicine, science, engineering courses in Mindanao

MANILA – The University of the Philippines (UP) on Friday said it will launch more programs focusing on medicine, basic sciences, and engineering in Mindanao to help foster development in the region.

"We are trying to be in step with the aspirations of the people of Mindanao to truly develop lalo na nga na activated na, very much implemented na ang plans ng (especially since the plans are already activated and very much implemented in) BARMM (Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao)," UP President Angelo Jimenez said at the Rise and Shine program of PTV.

"Iyong pinaka-significant is mag-introduce tayo ng medicine, a course in medicine, kasi kulang na kulang ang mga doctors doon (The most significant is to introduce a course in medicine because of the lack doctors in the region). We want to contribute not just doctors, but students trained to be excellent doctors and leaders as well," he added.

For the academic year 2025-2026, Jimenez said UP Mindanao will launch programs in Doctor of Medicine, Civil Engineering, and Associate in Entrepreneurship, along with two master's degree (MD) programs – Master of Science (MS) in Quantitative Methods in Modeling, and MS in Biology.

He said the master's degree programs aim to enhance and upskill students of Bachelor of Science (BS) Biology and BS Applied Math, as well as boost scientific research power in Mindanao.

"The introduction of these new programs shall enable UP Mindanao to realize its 'The Road to 5,000 Students' (R25K) target by 2029," he said.

To date, UP Mindanao has around 1,400 students enrolled in various programs. (PNA)