Artificial intelligence in the classrooms: San Marcos and other universities in Peru that seek to teach this technology

This career would be attached to the Faculty of Systems Engineering and Computer Science, and the final decision will be in the hands of the University Assembly. But it is not the only university that seeks to integrate this new technology that is already part of our lives.

At the end of December, the University Assembly of the National University of Engineering (UNI), according to a report from Infobae, approved the creation of the Artificial Intelligence Engineering degree. It would also be part of its Faculty of Industrial and Systems Engineering.

Furthermore, another step by UNI has been the creation of the Institute of Artificial Intelligence, which will centralize and enhance AI research in Peru.

At the end of 2025, the Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola (USIL) also reported that it would focus on AI, converting its Faculty of Engineering into the new Faculty of Engineering and Artificial Intelligence (FIIA), in which progressive courses will be taught in machine learning, data science, advanced programming, computer vision, generative AI, among others.

Why is it important to study AI? Is there labor demand in Peru?

David Chávez, director of Emerging Engineering Technologies at the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP), points out that in the world we are experiencing a stage of transition and, “whoever shows mastery or competence in their work profile [en IA]you will have a better recruiting option”.

“For now, the job demand is looking like this. For example, mining is recruiting and will continue to recruit people who have their sights set on mining, first, and then who understand AI. Later, when this consolidates and becomes more common, direct recruitments for artificial intelligence will probably begin to appear.”he indicated.

Various approaches

In 2024, according to an Infobae report, 5 universities and 5 institutes had courses related to artificial intelligence. For example, Tecsup, which teaches Prompt Engineering (Introduction to the use of AI), which involves teaching the basic principles of AI, prompt development, document analysis, among other skills.

But there are also universities like UTEC that bring artificial intelligence to all their courses, without counting it as a specialty. That is, there are many ways to approach AI.

The PUCP follows this last line, “transverse and systematic to all careers,” according to Chávez.

“We understand that AI and all these technological manifestations of computational capacity are going to have a severe and intense impact from the skills, through the performances and also how they are taught and practiced. “Every career has the challenge of incorporating these new tools”he explained to this newspaper.

For the moment, that is the approach that the PUCP follows. A similar case is that of the Autonomous University of Peru.

“Today we find ourselves in education 5.0 in Peru, where the incorporation of artificial intelligence is not only as a career, but “We have considered it in our new 2026 educational model as a transversal axis in student training”said Rosa Moreno, academic vice-rector of the latter house of studies.

However, he did not rule out the creation of this type of career. “First we have to do a study of social demand,” he indicated. But above all, beyond AI, he stressed that “we must not lose sight of that humanistic, ethical and values ​​formation.”

What is needed?

Artificial intelligence is a branch of computing, but today it is present in all our activities (even on the cell phone where you are probably reading this note), it is in social networks, the financial system, robotics, transportation, and much more.

But for it to work, investment is required. It goes through software development, the creation of processors, and investment in data centers. What does it take to teach AI?

For Chávez, the most important thing is something that seems to be being displaced these days: the human factor.

“In the vision of the PUCP, we start with human talent of the highest qualification. That is the number one ingredient, the essential. And along with that, you obviously need capabilities. First of all, innovation, research and development, so that you are not just a sounding board, but so that you have your own voice”he explained.

And, of course, computing infrastructure, connectivity, software, laboratories, etc. are also required.

For his part, Moreno highlights the importance of the educational model. That is to say, “adapt to the needs or trends of education and the demands of the labor market”.

From there you should also think about investment, as indicated, “strong investment in laboratories, a strong investment in simulators, a strong investment in methodology”. One of these steps is URUK, a platform or library trained “so that children can also read with artificial intelligence.”

“We are investing in a database center so that students can do internships”he indicated.

Artificial intelligence is a reality among universities in the world, highlighting the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon, and Oxford University, among many others that compete to be the best. Could it soon be the same in Peru?