The ASEAN Foundation says it has received endorsement from the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Education (SOM-ED) for “AI Ready ASEAN Powered by AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific”, a regional initiative intended to build practical artificial intelligence skills across Southeast Asia through to the end of 2028.
According to the Foundation, the program was introduced during the Open Session of the 21st SOM-ED and aims to equip more than 1.7 million students, K-12 teachers and university faculty members with applied AI skills.
The initiative is being run in collaboration with AVPN, with support from Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The Foundation said the program’s second phase will shift from general AI awareness to applied learning, focusing on integrating AI “responsibly” into teaching, learning, research and workforce preparation.
“Phase 1 showed us that ASEAN’s youth, educators, and communities are ready to engage with AI when given the right tools and support. With Phase 2, now powered by AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific, we are moving beyond awareness to embedding practical AI skills across our education systems, so that teachers and students can use AI responsibly and confidently while preparing the region’s future workforce,” said Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation.
The Foundation said it will work with “Local Implementing Partners” in ASEAN member states to adapt curricula to local contexts and deliver training to K-12 teachers, tertiary students and university faculty. It also said it will coordinate with national education ministries to align delivery with national AI and education priorities, and to complement existing initiatives.
In addition to training, the Foundation plans regional and national convenings bringing together government, industry, academia, civil society, media and program beneficiaries. The fourth regional convening is scheduled for December 2026 in Singapore, the Foundation said.
“AI literacy is becoming a foundational skill, and educators are at the centre of ensuring learners across Southeast Asia can use the technology responsibly and effectively. Google.org is proud to continue supporting the ASEAN Foundation as AI Ready ASEAN moves from awareness to applied, in-depth training that will benefit millions of students across the region,” said Marija Ralic, Head of Google.org APAC.
“Through the AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific, AVPN is committed to helping deliver practical, scalable AI skills training where it is needed most. Working alongside the ASEAN Foundation and LIPs across the region, this programme demonstrates how coordinated regional action can turn AI readiness into a tangible, measurable outcome for teachers, students, and faculty,” said Naina Subberwal Batra, CEO of AVPN.
The Foundation said the initiative aligns with ASEAN’s ASCC Strategic Plan 2026-2030, AEC Strategic Plan 2026-2030 and the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2026–2030, linking AI education to regional goals around digital learning access, workforce competitiveness and responsible use of emerging technologies.
