The Philippine Normal University successfully hosted the ASEAN Teacher Education Conference (AsTEC) 2026 on 2–3 July 2026 at the Golden Prince Hotel and Suites, Cebu City, with support from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Association of Southeast Asian Teacher Education Network (AsTEN), and Cebu Normal University. The event brought together education leaders, policymakers, researchers, scholars, and teacher educators from across Asia under the theme, “The ASEAN Teacher Identity: Ensuring Quality Teacher Education in the Digital Era.”

AsTEC2026 highlighted emerging issues and opportunities in teacher education through keynote sessions, panel discussions, policy dialogue, and concurrent paper presentations. The conference aimed to strengthen institutional partnerships and advance a shared vision for quality teacher education that responds to the evolving demands of the digital era.

The conference formally opened with welcome messages from PNU President Dr. Bert Jazmin Tuga, Cebu Normal University President Dr. Laurence L. Garcia, and AsTEN Chairperson Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, followed by the statement of purpose delivered by AsTEN Executive Director and Conference Convenor, Assoc. Prof. John Carlo M. Ramos.

A highlight of the conference was the keynote session delivered by Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chairperson Dr. Shirley C. Agrupis, whose steadfast support for AsTEC2026 underscored CHED’s commitment to advancing quality teacher education in the region. In her keynote address, “Advancing ASEAN Teacher Education: Innovation, Resilience, and Collaboration in a Transforming World,” Dr. Agrupis emphasized the importance of innovation, resilience, and regional collaboration in preparing future-ready educators. She likewise highlighted the Philippines’ leadership in advancing regional higher education initiatives, including the proposed ASEAN Center of Excellence for Teacher Education and Development (ACTED), reinforcing a shared vision of strengthening teacher education through cooperation and innovation. Her vision for a globally competitive and responsive higher education sector resonated throughout the conference, inspiring greater collaboration among teacher education institutions across ASEAN.

Throughout the two-day conference, distinguished speakers shared their expertise on teacher education, quality assurance, literacy, artificial intelligence, and professional development. Among the keynote speakers were Prof. Dr. Fuad Abdul Hamied, Executive Director of the AsTEN Teacher Quality Assurance; Prof. Christine Goh, Chair Professor at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University; Asst. Prof. Dr. Tanmay Sinha, Assistant Professor at the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University; Dr. Jennie V. Jocson, Executive Director of the Teacher Education Council; and Mr. John Arnold Siena, Deputy Director for Programme and Development of the SEAMEO Secretariat. Their presentations provided valuable insights into innovation, quality assurance, teacher professionalism, literacy, and technology-enabled learning in ASEAN.

AsTEC2026 also featured two high-level panel discussions on “Who is an ASEAN Teacher?” and “Policy Dialogue on University Social Responsibility and Community Extension,” bringing together education leaders from ASEAN member institutions to exchange perspectives on teacher identity, institutional engagement, and regional cooperation. Parallel paper presentation sessions showcased research on teacher professionalism, quality assurance, theory-practice nexus, institutional development, and teacher well-being, providing a venue for scholars and researchers to present their findings and engage in scholarly discourse on contemporary issues in teacher education within the ASEAN context.

A key feature of the conference was the Information and Consultation Session on the Proposed ASEAN Center of Excellence for Teacher Education and Development (ACTED), which served as a platform to introduce the proposed Center and engage stakeholders in a consultative dialogue. The session sought to assess the need for a regional center dedicated to teacher education, gather valuable insights and recommendations from ASEAN partners, and identify priority areas for collaboration, capacity building, research, and policy development.

The Philippine Normal University reaffirmed its commitment as the National Center for Teacher Education to advancing excellence in teacher education and strengthening regional partnerships.