APU and OUM inaugurated the ASEAN Stakeholder Summit on Generative AI for Education 2025, uniting regional leaders to advance responsible AI in higher education while strengthening ASEAN cooperation, featuring partners like Google and AWS, highlighting Malaysia’s AI leadership, and recognising outstanding research through paper and poster awards.

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The Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU), in collaboration with Open University Malaysia (OUM), officially inaugurated the ASEAN Stakeholder Summit on Generative AI for Education 2025.

The three-day gathering brought together visionary educators, leading researchers, policymakers, and technology innovators from across ASEAN and beyond, creating a vibrant space for collaboration, innovation, and forward-thinking dialogue.

Building on the resounding success of the inaugural 2024 Summit, held in partnership with UNESCO, this year’s edition aimed to accelerate system-wide transformation in higher education through the responsible and inclusive adoption of Generative AI (GenAI).

The launch featured welcome remarks by Professor Ho Chin Kuan, Vice Chancellor of APU; opening remarks by Professor Dato’ Izanee Awang, President and Vice Chancellor of OUM; and an officiating address by Professor Dr Zainal Amin Ayub, Deputy Director General of Higher Education (Academic & Research) at the Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE), Malaysia.

Industry and regional partners, including AWS, SEAMEO, Google for Education, Masverse Sdn. Bhd., NexusCorp, and others, contributed actively through discussions, presentations, and solution-building sessions.

The Summit also explored insights from distinguished guests such as Mr Samsul Majid, Director of the National AI Office Malaysia; Dr Jeremy Van Hof from Michigan State University; Professor Ronghuai Huang, UNESCO Chair on Artificial Intelligence in Education, China; Professor Maria Mercedes T. Rodrigo, Head of the ATENEO Laboratory for Learning Sciences, Philippines; and Associate Professor Dr Aini Suzana Datuk Haji Ariffin, Chair of UNESCO STEPAN, Asia Pacific. 

The Summit also celebrated a significant milestone as APU welcomed Timor Leste, ASEAN’s newest member state. This inclusion reflected the strong and enduring partnership between Malaysia and Timor Leste, particularly in education, technology, and innovation, which continued to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

“This year’s Summit was even more exciting and impactful, bringing together educators, policymakers, and tech innovators from across ASEAN, including Malaysia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, and our newest member, Timor Leste,” said Professor Ho Chin Kuan, Vice Chancellor of APU.

This collaboration underscored Malaysia’s commitment to inclusive regional cooperation, the advancement of AI in education, and the development of long-term educational and technological partnerships.

With diverse perspectives and shared expertise, the Summit shaped innovative ASEAN-wide solutions positioned to transform the future of higher education.

The ASEAN Stakeholder Summit on Generative AI for Education 2025 deepened regional dialogue on AI policy, ethics, and capacity-building, while strengthening cross-border collaboration among ASEAN institutions.

It provided a platform for organisations to exchange research, innovation, and strategic approaches, and to chart a unified pathway toward an AI-ready, inclusive, and future-focused higher education ecosystem.

The Summit showcased research written by Gen-AI practitioners by multiple academics and students from various universities in ASEAN and beyond. 

These presentations were complemented by hands-on workshops led by global technology leaders, including Google, AWS, and Masverse.

In addition, the Summit launched several ASEAN-wide initiatives aimed at enhancing AI literacy and equipping educators with essential training.

The event also highlighted Malaysia’s position as a regional hub for AI innovation in education, reinforcing its leadership in shaping policy and showcasing local institutional excellence.

“This was more than a conference. It was a strategic regional dialogue for the future of education,” said Professor Abtar Darshan Singh, UNESCO Chairholder at APU.

“Through long-term networks, collaborative frameworks, and centres of excellence, ASEAN led the way in harnessing AI to create inclusive, forward-looking education systems.”

The Summit also celebrated outstanding academic contributions through its paper and poster awards, recognising exceptional research and impactful insights presented by participants across ASEAN.

On the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit 2025, high-level education stakeholders met to discuss high-impact topics related to Gen AI in Education in the ASEAN context.

With continued participation from global technology partners, policymakers, and researchers, the APU-initiated ASEAN Stakeholder Summit on Generative AI for Education was poised to propel the ASEAN region to the forefront of AI in education.

The 2026 summit continued to advance AI literacy, showcased cutting-edge projects, and recognised outstanding academic contributions across the region.