Quezon City, Philippines - The three-day Regional Conference on Educational Planning in Asia-Pacific, which took place from November 5-7, 2024, concluded with a strong call for renewed collaboration in addressing the evolving educational needs of the region.
Hosted by SEAMEO INNOTECH, organized by the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP), and held in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd) and the UNESCO National Commission of the Philippines, the conference brought together key stakeholders in education to discuss and shape a collaborative agenda for the future of educational planning and management across Asia-Pacific.
Participants from across the region actively exchanged insights, best practices, and strategies during the conference, tackling the crucial educational challenges. The discussions focused on educational planning and management strategies to improve access, quality, and sustainability in education; leveraging digital transformation in education; establishment of effective monitoring systems to track the impact of education policies; and mapping and improving the tools and frameworks to evaluate student progress and learning outcomes across the region.
The key strategies identified include fostering greater collaboration, integrating research into planning, developing data-driven frameworks, and continuously refining policies to meet diverse learner needs. The conference also emphasized the need for capacity building and professional development, particularly specialized training for education planners and school leaders through customized programs. The development and sharing of Open Educational Resources (OER) were central, aiming to strengthen institutional capacity and create more equitable educational opportunities. A major highlight was the proposal to establish a Community of Practice (CoP) to foster ongoing collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the implementation of evidence-based approaches to digital transformation and educational reform.
IIEP-UNESCO Director Martin Benavides reflected on the event’s successful collaboration and the need for integration across all areas of educational planning. He emphasized, “We need to do an effort of integration. Everything is related, and as we move forward, we must ensure that all areas—training, research, and community practice—work together towards one common objective.” He also highlighted the importance of recognizing both data and evidence in shaping policy, and called for a balance between the two to ensure that policies are well-targeted and effective in addressing regional educational challenges.
The closing of the conference was marked by remarks from SEAMEO INNOTECH Deputy Director Kochakorn Khattapan-Acidre, who emphasized the importance of continuing the momentum generated during the event. "As we move forward, let us carry the spirit of this workshop with us. Let us continue to research, innovate, and collaborate to address the challenges that lie ahead. Let us be the champions of inclusive and quality education for all, ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to reach their full potential,” Khattapan-Acidre said in her closing address.
As the conference concluded, SEAMEO INNOTECH, under the leadership of Center Director Leonor Magtolis Briones, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting educational innovation and collaboration across the region. The organization’s ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships and foster meaningful change in educational practices will continue, with the goal of ensuring that education systems in Southeast Asia and beyond are able to meet the evolving needs of all learners.
