The Philippines led ASEAN higher education ministers in adopting three landmark regional initiatives aimed at future-proofing higher education across Southeast Asia through artificial intelligence, teacher development, research collaboration, and academic mobility.
Higher education ministers from ASEAN Member States unanimously adopted the three outcome documents on June 26 during the Ministers’ Roundtable on Access and Sustainable Development in Higher Education, convened by the Philippines through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) as part of its 2026 ASEAN Chairship.
The documents will guide regional education cooperation under the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2026–2030 and translate recommendations from the ASEAN High-Level Policy Dialogue held a day earlier into concrete regional actions.
The roundtable reflected ASEAN’s shared commitment to building a more inclusive, resilient, and future-ready higher education community amid rapid digital transformation and emerging technological challenges.
CHED said the Ministerial Roundtable was guided by the vision of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., who has emphasized the transformative role of innovation and digital technologies in strengthening ASEAN.
As part of the Philippine ASEAN Chairship, Marcos has championed the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence to accelerate the region’s digital future, support the silver economy, and foster a more connected, resilient, and age-inclusive ASEAN Community.
The first outcome document, the ASEAN Ministerial Statement on Access to Quality Higher Education through Digital Transformation and Sustainability, establishes a shared regional policy framework promoting equitable access to higher education through AI-enabled learning, ethical AI governance, lifelong learning opportunities, faculty development, and stronger collaboration among higher education institutions.
The statement will be elevated for notation at the 49th ASEAN Leaders’ Summit, highlighting the strategic role of higher education in advancing the ASEAN Community.
The second outcome document, the Terms of Reference for the ASEAN Centre of Excellence for Teacher Education and Development (ACTED), will serve as ASEAN’s premier platform for teacher professional development, policy research, quality assurance, educator mobility, innovation in pedagogy, and institutional capacity-building.
The initiative aims to ensure that ASEAN educators remain equipped to prepare learners for an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving future.
The third initiative, ASEAN GEMS Plus, expands the existing ASEAN Global Exchange for Mobility and Scholarship platform beyond scholarships and student mobility to include regional research grants, researcher mobility, innovation partnerships, and collaborative projects anchored on the Sustainable Development Goals.
CHED said the three documents were the result of months of technical discussions, consultations, and consensus-building among ASEAN Member States through the Senior Officials Meeting on Education.
Together, the initiatives—anchored on digital transformation, teacher excellence, and regional research and mobility—form a comprehensive roadmap for advancing access, innovation, and sustainable development in ASEAN higher education.
They also reinforce CHED’s commitment to internationalization under its ACHIEVE Agenda while advancing a stronger, more connected, and globally competitive ASEAN Higher Education Community.
With the ministers’ adoption, the three outcome documents are now set for implementation under the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2026–2030.
During the roundtable, ministers also shared national experiences, reforms, and best practices in expanding access to higher education, advancing sustainability, and preparing institutions for rapid technological change.
In the Philippines’ country statement, CHED Chairperson Shirley C. Agrupis highlighted the Commission’s ACHIEVE Agenda as the country’s strategic roadmap for transforming higher education through expanded access, lifelong learning, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, research excellence, and sustainability.
“While we have made significant progress, the challenges of equitable access, digital transformation, research, and preparing learners for the future are challenges that no country can address alone. That is why stronger ASEAN cooperation is essential—to deepen collaboration in mobility, innovation, teacher development, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence as we build a more connected and future-ready higher education community,” Agrupis said.
CHED said the milestone reflected the coordinated efforts of the Commission, the ASEAN National Organizing Committee, the Presidential Communications Office through the Radio Television Malacañang, ASEAN Member States, dialogue partners, and technical working groups.
As 2026 ASEAN Chair, the Philippines said it remains committed to working with ASEAN Member States to build a more inclusive, resilient, and future-ready ASEAN Higher Education Community through innovation, responsible digital transformation, quality teacher education, research collaboration, and expanded educational opportunities.