Press Conference on the CHED-Hosted ASEAN Higher Education Policy Dialogue and Roundtable

Manila, Philippines, June 19, 2026 / TRAVELINDEX / The Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in coordination with the ASEAN Secretariat and relevant ASEAN education-sectoral bodies, invites members of the media to a Press Conference to present and amplify the key outcomes, policy recommendations, and regional commitments emerging from the ASEAN High-Level Policy Dialogue on Access to Quality Higher Education: Digital Transformation and Sustainability and the Ministers’ Roundtable on Access and Sustainable Development in Higher Education.

The press conference will serve as a platform to communicate to the public, policymakers, higher education institutions, and other stakeholders the significant agreements and outcome documents endorsed by ASEAN higher education leaders and ministers. These include policy directions on digital transformation, artificial intelligence in education, sustainable development, teacher education, student mobility, and regional cooperation in higher education.

Among the highlights to be presented are the proposed ASEAN Higher Education Ministerial Statement on Access and Sustainable Development, the Terms of Reference of the ASEAN Center of Excellence for Teacher Education and Development (ACTED), and the ASEAN GEMS Plus Project Proposal, which collectively seek to strengthen regional collaboration and expand access to quality higher education across Southeast Asia.

As part of the Philippine ASEAN Chairship, the press conference underscores the country’s commitment to advancing a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable higher education ecosystem in the region and ensuring that the outcomes of these high-level discussions are effectively communicated to a broader audience.

WHEN: 26 June 2026 (MM) | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (PH Time)

WHERE: The press conference will be conducted virtually via the Cisco WebEx platform.

WHY: The back-to-back High-Level Policy Dialogue and Ministers’ Roundtable will strengthen ASEAN policy coherence on access, digital transformation, sustainability, and regional harmonisation in higher education. These engagements will contribute directly to the implementation of the ASEAN Higher Education Common Space Roadmap and the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2026–2030, leaving a lasting legacy of stronger regional cooperation, shared policy directions, and expanded opportunities for learners and institutions across Southeast Asia.

OUTCOME DOCUMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE ASEAN EDUCATION MINISTERS MEETING (ASED)

• ADOPTION of the ASEAN Higher Education Ministerial Statement on Access and Sustainable Development, in relation to:
  • AI-Enabled Teaching and Learning Environments
  • Digital Transformation in Higher Education
    (For notation at the 49th ASEAN Summit)
• ADOPTION of the Terms of Reference of the ASEAN Center of Excellence for Teacher Education and Development (ACTED)
• ADOPTION of the ASEAN GEMS Plus Project Proposal