The 14th SEAMEO–University of Tsukuba Symposium was successfully convened on 5–6 February 2026 in Tokyo, jointly organised by SEAMEO and the University of Tsukuba, with support from Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). Held under the theme “Empowering Learning Futures: Digital Transformation for Equitable and Sustainable Education,” the hybrid symposium gathered policymakers, researchers, SEAMEO Centre Directors, and educators from across Southeast Asia, Japan, and beyond, drawing nearly 10,000 registered participants from 80 countries and over 18,000 livestream views worldwide.

In her keynote address, SEAMEO Director Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim emphasised that “digital transformation is not an end in itself, but a means to strengthen learning systems,” reminding participants that technology must ultimately serve learners, teachers, and communities, equitably and responsibly. She underscored that foundational learning remains the bedrock of all innovation, citing regional evidence that significant proportions of learners have yet to reach expected proficiency levels in reading and mathematics. Without strong foundations, she noted, digitalisation risks amplifying exclusion rather than enabling empowerment.

Mr John Siena interacts with SEA Teacher exchange students.

Expert panels and breakout sessions echoed this call, focusing on closing foundational learning gaps, expanding access for underserved and out-of-school learners, strengthening teacher professional development, and ensuring ethical and climate-responsive digital strategies. Discussions highlighted that infrastructure alone is insufficient; meaningful impact depends on empowered teachers, coherent governance, and inclusive system design.

The symposium concluded with a collaborative action-planning session, reaffirming a shared Japan–Southeast Asia commitment to equity-first and sustainability-focused digital transformation. Through this long-standing partnership, SEAMEO and the University of Tsukuba continue to demonstrate that regional cooperation grounded in evidence and shared values remains central to shaping empowered learning futures for all.