The Philippine Normal University (PNU) participated in the ASEAN Higher Education Leadership Forum (ASHELF) 2025 organized by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia and the Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI), with the leadership of the University of Putra Malaysia (UPM). This forum was held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) in Malaysia from November 4 to 5, 2025, as part of the Festival of Ideas (FOI) organized by the Government of Malaysia, being the Chair of the ASEAN Summit 2025.

PNU was ably represented by its Vice President for Academics, Prof. Dr. Marilyn Ubiña-Balagtas, who was also invited to serve as a speaker in the Teaching and Learning Cluster of the forum. Dr. Balagtas talked about the “Evolving Landscape of Higher Education: Towards Values-based Education and Adaptive Learning,” which aligns with the forum’s theme on “Adaptive Learning and Values-based Education: Shaping the Next-Generation Higher Education.”

Aside from giving a talk on the forum’s theme, Dr. Balagtas also led two Round Table Discussions (RTD) about “Compassionate Pedagogy in Values-based Education” on Day 1 and the “Integration of AI-Resilient Assessment in Compassionate Pedagogy in Values-based Education” on Day 2. Along with Dr. Balagtas were speakers like Associate Professor Dr. Wan Zuhainis Saad, Professor Dr. Nor Aziah Alias, and Professor Dr. Nurfadhlina Mohd Sharef, all from the University of Putra Malaysia, and Professor Dr. Jintavee Khlaisan of Chulalongkorn University, Thailand.

The Minister of Higher Education Malaysia, YB Dato’ Sri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, delivered the welcome message for all the participants in the FOI and ASHELF 2025. The keynote speaker during the opening of the Festival of Ideas (FOI) and ASHELF 2025, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), emphasized Adaptive Learning and Values-based Education as the first of the six guiding stars of the direction of higher education in the ASEAN region. The Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, YAB Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi, graced the occasion and delivered a keynote message as well, and he emphasized that in the advent of AI, knowledge is in one’s fingertips but not in one’s heart yet. Such statement emphasizes the balancing of knowledge and value formation in the education of the citizens of the ASEAN region. Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat, gave her message on advancing higher education through collective leadership. The forum ended with the commitment to continue promoting compassionate and adaptive learning in values-based education in higher education.