From 31 March to 2 April 2026, the Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on Teachers: Elevate, Support and Invest in the Teaching Profession, jointly organized by UNESCO Bangkok and Education International Asia-Pacific, was successfully held in Bangkok, Thailand. Ms. YUAN Xin, Senior Programme Officer, and Mr. ZHANG Boyi, Programme Officer, participated in the Forum on behalf of the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) and engaged in discussions on teacher development and the digital transformation of education.

Group Picture of the Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on Teachers

At the opening session, Ms. Soohyun Kim, Regional Director, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific; Mr. Anand Singh, Regional Director, Education International Asia-Pacific; and Mr. Phichet Phophakdee, Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, Ministry of Education of Thailand, delivered welcome remarks. All speakers emphasized the need for the Forum to strengthening policy dialogue on the professional development of teachers, while promoting innovative practices to support education transformation in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Forum highlighted that the central role of teachers within education systems is becoming increasingly critical in the digital age. On the one hand, there is a need to systematically strengthen the teaching profession through enhanced quality assurance frameworks, capacity-building initiatives, improved research and evidence-based data collection, and multi-stakeholder collaboration. On the other hand, teachers must not only adapt to the evolving demands of the digital age, but also play an indispensable role in promoting inclusive education and equipping learners with skills needed for the AI enabled labour market.

Plenary Session 3: Teachers Cannot Be Coded: Exploring the Teaching Profession in an Age of Digital Technologies and the Rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

During the Forum, Ms. YUAN Xin presented in the Plenary Session 3: Teachers Cannot Be Coded: Exploring the Teaching Profession in an Age of Digital Technologies and the Rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). She shared UNESCO-ICHEI’s experience in fostering digital transformation in higher education through the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE), highlighting approaches such as micro-certification courses and public-private partnerships. She emphasized that teachers play an increasingly critical role in guiding students to uphold ethical use of AI-generated content, and design meaningful and interactive learning experiences.

Ms. YUAN Xin presented in the Plenary Session 3

During the session on Presentations and Discussions on Innovations Being Used by Countries Towards Current Transformations Impacting Teaching, Mr. ZHANG Boyi contributed to discussions on case studies, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding student privacy and data protection in the use of digital technologies and AI, and ensuring that technological innovation is aligned with ethics in education.

Mr. ZHANG Boyi contributed to discussions on digital transformation case studies

The UNESCO-ICHEI delegation engaged in several bilateral meetings to strengthen regional partnerships during their mission in Bangkok. On 30 March, the delegation visited the ASEAN University Network (AUN) Secretariat and met with Prof. Dr. Sinchai Kamolphiwong, Director of the AUN Dx Thematic Network, alongside Mr. Korn Rattanagosoom, Chief Strategy Officer and AUN Secretariat Office's First Officer, as well as colleagues from the AUN Secretariat. Discussions focused on fostering cooperation with AUN member universities, enhancing knowledge exchange on AI governance frameworks for higher education, and exploring collaboration in the development and sharing of digital competency and AI-related courses.

UNESCO ICHEI visited the ASEAN University Network (AUN) Secretariat

After that, the delegation visited the Teachers' Council of Thailand under the Ministry of Education in Bangkok for a productive exchange on teacher professional development in Thailand. UNESCO-ICHEI was honored to meet with Prof. Dr. Amonwan Werathummo, Secretary-General of the Teachers' Council of Thailand, together with Dr. Suda Suk-um, Deputy Secretary-General; Prof. Dr. Phonraphee Thummaphan, Deputy Secretary-General; Mr. Jirawat Prakobnai, Director of the Policy and Planning Bureau; and Ms. Nuttiya Dangpiam, Director of the Foreign Affairs Unit, alongside colleagues from the Council. Discussions highlighted the IIOE global network and collaboration on digital competency development for teachers. The Council expressed appreciation for UNESCO-ICHEI's AI-related and digital competency courses, noting their relevance and potential benefits for enhancing teachers' capacities nationwide.

UNESCO ICHEI visited the Teachers' Council of Thailand

On 1 April, UNESCO-ICHEI delegation held a meeting with UNESCO Bangkok, engaging in a productive exchange to strengthen coordination and collaboration within the UNESCO family. The delegation met with Ms. Marina Patrier, Deputy Director and Chief of Education at UNESCO Bangkok, and Mr. Dean Chen, Associate Programme Specialist from the Education Section. Discussions focused on potential collaboration in countries like Thailand, Lao PDR, and Cambodia, to advance Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), through coordinated regional efforts.

Meeting with UNESCO Bangkok

On 2 April, UNESCO-ICHEI delegation conducted a constructive meeting with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), engaging in a fruitful exchange on strengthening regional collaboration in education across Southeast Asia. The UNESCO-ICHEI delegation was honored to meet with Dr. Habibah binti Abdul Rahim, Director of SEAMEO, together with Mr. John Arnold Sasi Siena, Deputy Director; Mr. Carlo Fernando, Learning Innovation and Information Specialist; Ms. Ahnee Lae Monzon Abutin, Policy and Planning Specialist; and Mr. Danie Gonzalvo, Publication and Multimedia Specialist. The meeting provided an important opportunity to explore potential areas of collaboration. Discussions focused on enhancing knowledge sharing and institutional linkages, as well as jointly advancing policy development and research outputs in support of education digital transformation in the region.

Meeting with SEAMEO

UNESCO-ICHEI delegation then visited Chulalongkorn University in the afternoon, engaging in a forward-looking exchange on AI enabled higher education. The delegation met with Professor Tewarit Sarachana, Assistant to the President for International Affairs and Global Networking and Quality Assurance in accordance with the Education Criteria for Performance Excellence (EdPEx), together with Ms. Apisara Thongpoka, International Cooperation Officer, and Ms. An-An Tangprasertphong, One-stop Service Officer. During the discussion, Chulalongkorn University shared its experience in applying AI across the university, as well as its systematic approach to strengthening digital and AI competencies among faculty and staff.

UNESCO-ICHEI visited Chulalongkorn University

Through contributing to the Forum and series of exchanges, UNESCO-ICHEI further strengthened its connections with key regional partners and expanded opportunities for collaboration in teacher development and regional digital transformation. Moving forward, UNESCO-ICHEI will continue leveraging its multi-stakeholder networks to promote the integration and ethical use of AI in higher education and contribute to building a more inclusive, equitable, and high-quality higher education system across the Asia-Pacific region.