11th ADB International Education and Skills Forum: Applying a Fresh Lens to Unlock the Power of Human Capital 3 to 5 December 2025 ADB hosted the 11th International Education and Skills Forum from 3–5 December 2025 at its headquarters in Manila, themed “Applying a Fresh Lens to Unlock the Power of Human Capital.” The forum sought to enable education systems to respond more quickly to transformational trends and to better address persistent challenges in the education and skills development sector. The forum revolved around a 3×3×3 lens, which comprised three themes, three dimensions, and three system levels. The three themes addressed transformative features to reimagine and rejuvenate education systems: realizing the potential of digital transformation and EdTech at scale; promoting green and climate-resilience skills for inclusive and sustainable growth; and unlocking the role of education and training for future jobs across multisector contexts. The three dimensions focused on enhancing quality and its measurement, supporting inclusion and equity, and building future-ready education and training systems. The three system levels covered investments in K–12 education, strengthening technical and vocational education and training, and accelerating tertiary education, research, and innovation. The forum brought together education ministers, global leaders, experts, policymakers, academia, private sector representatives, and international organizations, who strategized on new approaches, investments, and partnerships to unlock the full potential of human capital across Asia and the Pacific. Program and Learning Materials Impact Stories 03 December 2025 04 December 2025 Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Introduction to Impact Stories [Introduction to Impact Stories] Education and skills for the 21st-century: The Asian Development Bank’s impact across Asia and the Pacific Across Asia and the Pacific, the way people live and work is changing with incredible speed. Digitalization, the climate crisis, and shifting labor… Learning across sectors: Preparing people for the jobs of tomorrow Students at Oudong High School present the result of their project work on science subject at one of the school's science classrooms supported by ADB… Building the future of learning through digital transformation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, computer graphics and multimedia research laboratory, at the National University of Mongolia.In a rural… Building the future readiness of education and training systems The School Education Reform Sector Development Program will help the Ministry of Education and Science undertake key institutional reforms in… Beyond access: The mission to build truly inclusive education systems Activities at the Special School District #25 in Mongolia.In Mongolia’s capital, Ulaanbaatar, a teacher sets up a tablet on her desk and begins an… K-12 education in Asia and the Pacific: Building quality and inclusion into the learning journey Tboli Sebu Senior High School in South Cotabato offers a unique program with a Culture-based curriculum for students.The approach to early childhood… From access to learning: How Asia and the Pacific are building quality into education ADB Approves $200 Million Loan to Strengthen Education System in Nepal – The program will assist the implementation of the first five year of the… How higher education is accelerating research and innovation across Asia and the Pacific TVET Program in Lao PDR.In universities and research centers across Asia and the Pacific, change is gathering pace. Lecture halls are shaking up the… Technical and vocational education and training: Powering Asia’s skills future Murtazo Mahmadaliev with his course teacher. (right) Kakhramon Faizulloev, chief engineer and course instructor.When Nikita decided to retrain after… Learning to change: How climate-resilient skills are leading Asia and the Pacific to a greener future The earthquake damaged school buildings in the Sindhupalchowk district.In classrooms across the Solomon Islands, teaching is undergoing a… Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Opening Session Moderator Mitzi Borromeo Applying a Fresh Lens to Unlock the Power of Human Capital Harini Amarasuriya Juan Edgardo Angara Shanti Jagannathan Spotlight Session with Education Ministers Moderator Christine Engstrom [Video] Big Bold Ideas for the Future of Education: Unlocking the Power of Human Capital in Asia and the Pacific This video is the opening session of the 11th ADB International Education and Skills Forum, titled Big Bold Ideas for the Future of Education:… Naranbayar Purevsuren, Shirley Agrupis, Simil Johnson Youse, Khushboo Chowdhary, Nasimjon Karimzoda, Fauzan Adziman Spotlight Session with Education Ministers Moderator Ayako Inagaki [Video] Big Bold Ideas for the Future of Education: Scaling-up Quality, Inclusion, and Equity This presentation is a spotlight session from the 11th ADB International Education and Skills Forum that focuses on key issues around scaling up… Gardenia Aisek, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Gerald Zackios, Zviad Gabisonia, Albert Makhmetkulov, Oung Borat, Shiba Sapkota Parallel Session 1.1 Moderator Louise A. Mcsorley [Video] Opening Doors for All Learners: Highlighting the International Day of Persons with Disabilities This video from the 11th ADB International Education and Skills Forum showcases a session about practical strategies to strengthen education systems… Catherine Holloway, Gohar Tadevosyan, Alessandro Mele, Manjushree Narasimhaiah Co-Created Open Innovation for Inclusive Education This presentation shows how co-creation and digital fabrication can make inclusive education affordable, scalable, and learner-centered by empowering… Sonoko Hayashi Parallel Session 1.2 Moderator Fook Yen Chong [Video] Micro-credentials: Building Trust in a Digital Era As digital credentials, AI verification, and blockchain-based systems grow, trust and recognition in education are being redefined. This session… Wendy Palmer, Simone Ravaioli, Stefano Tirati Building Trust in Education: Certifying & Tracking Knowledge in the Digital Era This presentation outlined how the Indonesia Cyber Education Institute built trust in digital education through a quality-assured online course… Fatia Fatimah Parallel Session 1.3 Moderator Rose Sagun, Education Specialist, Human and Social Development, ADB [Video] Smarter, Faster, Adaptable: How AI and Humans Can Transform the Future of Learning .This is a session from the 11th ADB International Education and Skills Forum titled Smarter, Faster, Adaptable: How AI and Humans Can Transform the… Edward Yee Transforming Learning in an AI-Powered World: UNESCO Vision and Approach This presentation presented UNESCO’s vision for transforming learning in an AI-powered world, emphasizing a human-centered approach to TVET that… Hervé Huot-Marchand Preparing AI Talents for Indonesia Future This presentation described Indonesia’s approach to preparing future AI talent by aligning national regulations, school-level coding and AI curricula… Baiq Hana Susanti Parallel Session 1.4 Moderator Unika Shreshta, Social Sector Economist, Human and Social Development, ADB [Video] From Fragility to Resilience to Empowerment: How Technology Transforms Opportunities During Crises and in Last-Mile Areas This presentation from the 11th ADB International Education and Skills Forum shared insights on how countries can transform TVET systems to be more… Maheen Matin, Angela Chen-Delantar, Malcolm Garma Presentation of EdTech Hub This presentation shared lessons from EdTech work in climate emergencies, emphasizing that learning needs and infrastructure shift during crises,… Haani Mazari Presentation of College of the Marshall Islands This presentation shared lessons from EdTech work in climate emergencies, emphasizing that learning needs and infrastructure shift during crises,… Elizabeth Switaj Parallel Session 1.5 Moderator Jian Xu, Senior Education Specialist, Human and Social Development, ADB Arndt Husar, Principal Operations Specialist, South Asia Department, ADB [Video] Innosphere of EdTech and Digital Solutions This interactive session explored digital and EdTech products and services through short elevator pitches of EdTech solutions, a rapid foresight… Bradley David De Burgh Ker, Sonoko Hayashi, Angel Zhang, Guanhua Zou, Jussi-Pekka Järvinen, Jesper Ryynänen, Huijie Xiao, Denise Fabella, Craig Shotland, Jia Xing, Gerald Tembrevilla, Leon Carlo Valencia, Hidayat Widodo Harjoprawito, Ulla Maaria Koivula, Sowparnika Kannan, Andy Lee, Kamlesh Yadav Innosphere of EdTech and Digital Solutions This presentation showcased the Innosphere parallel session of the ADB International Education and Skills Forum, featuring a diverse range of global… Parallel Session 1.6 Moderator Safdar Parvez, Deputy Director General, Strategy, Policy, and Partnerships Department, ADB [Video] Innovative Financing for Education and Role of Philanthropies This panel discussed how philanthropy can collaborate with governments and multilateral partners to strengthen education systems across Asia,… Karthik Krishnan, Laura Savage, Tiong Hui Yeo, Gayatri Nair Lobo, Raman Sidhu Parallel Session 1.7 Moderator Jian Xu, Senior Education Specialist, Human and Social Development, ADB [Video] Debate: Does Technology Truly Transform Learning Outcomes? This interactive debate session used live polling to gauge audience perspectives on four key questions and guide focused discussions across K–12,… Huijie Xiao Presentation of Khan Academy Philippines This presentation highlights Khan Academy’s impact as a global education technology platform, showcasing its scale, teacher support tools, rapid… Myrish Cadapan-Antonio Does Technology truly transform learning outcomes? This presentation explains that technology’s impact on learning in developing countries is mixed, highlighting challenges such as access gaps,… Binod Badal Empowering teachers with AI competencies to redesign teaching and assessment supports improvements in students' AI literacy and learning outcomes This presentation highlighted the importance of empowering teachers with AI competencies to improve student AI literacy and learning outcomes,… Bi Xiaohan Parallel Session 1.8 Moderator Namrata Saraogi, Social Sector Specialist, Human and Social Development, ADB [Video] Debate: Are Next Generation Models for Teachers, Trainers, and Policymakers Emerging to Keep Pace with Change? This video was a debate session from the 11th ADB International Education and Skills Forum exploring whether next-generation models for teachers,… Yorihisa Oneda, Anna Zongollowicz Data-Driven Capacity Building: Shaping the Future This presentation introduced CAITO’s data-driven capacity building approach, showcasing its Workforce Intelligence System as an example of how… Christine Bear Capacity Building Models: System Transformation Involving Stakeholders This presentation examined capacity building models for system transformation, emphasizing teacher professional development at scale through… Cher Ping Lim Parallel Session 1.9 Moderator Namrata Saraogi, Social Sector Specialist, Human and Social Development, ADB [Video] Debate: How Can Governments Spend Smart, Scale Fast in Financing Digital Transformation in Education that Leaves No One Behind? This video from the 11th ADB International Education and Skills Forum featured a session on strengthening girls’ education, where speakers discussed… Peter Fagerström, Irene Kaggwa, John Phillip Sevilla, Sean Tay Presentation of Data-Driven Capacity Building: Building Systems that Learn, Adapt, and Thrive This presentation examined practical models for delivering and sustaining rural school connectivity using satellite and Wi-Fi solutions, outlining… Paul Crilley Parallel Session 1.10 Moderator Namrata Saraogi, Social Sector Specialist, Human and Social Development, ADB Debate: How Can Higher Education Institutions Build AI-Enabled Research and Innovation Ecosystems? This video from the 11th ADB International Education and Skills Forum focused on strategies for improving early literacy outcomes, where speakers… Franz de Leon, Edward Harcourt, Kameshwari Mangalampalli, Ravi Bhushan Singh Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) Opening Remarks Opening Session Day 2 Applying a Fresh Lens to Unlock the Power of Human Capital Fatima Yasmin, Vice-President (Sectors and Themes), ADB Plenary Session Moderator Manuela Prina, Principal Education Specialist, Human and Social Development, ADB [Video] Shaping Investment Priorities in Education and Skills Toward a Sustainable Future The opening session of the second day of the Forum will explore how education and skills systems can prepare Asia and the Pacific for a more … Mamta Murthi, Outi Hakanen, Shanti Jagannathan Parallel Session 2.1 Moderator Albert Park, Chief Economist and Director General, Economic Research and Development Impact Department (ERDI), ADB [Video] Powering Data Use for Faster Response and Higher Impact through Education and Skills Development Across Asia and the Pacific, education and training systems face growing pressures to deliver faster, more impactful results to meet both social… Elisabetta Gentile, Lars Sondergaard, Davor Miskulin Parallel Session 2.2 Moderator Manuela Prina, Principal Education Specialist, Human and Social Development, ADB [Video] Shaping Multisector Investments for Quality Jobs of the Future Explore how linking industrial investment, infrastructure, and skills development can drive innovation, ensure smooth technology adoption, and create… Pilvi Torsti, Neo Poh Ling, Ashutosh Agarwal, Giovanni Crisona, Allison Woodruff Parallel Session 2.3 Moderator Ayako Inagaki, Senior Director, Human and Social Development, ADB [Video] Delivering on Lifelong Learning and Readiness of Children and Youth for the Future This session explores how education systems can equip children and youth with the skills, competencies, and experiences needed to thrive in a rapidly… Judit Barna, Elin McCallum, Natalie Nimmer, John Arnold Siena Parallel Session 2.4 Moderator Shanti Jagannathan, Director, Education Sector Group, Human and Social Development, ADB Parallel Session 2.4 [Video] Pushing the Technology Frontier in Education to Enhance Access, Quality, and Equity: The Role of the Private Sector As emerging technologies like AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, biotechnology, and renewable energy rapidly transform industries, education and… Sandeep Aneja, Steffina Yuli, Takuya Homma, Javier Arroyo Special Working Lunch Session 1 [Video] Inside ADB’s Partnership for Global Scholarship Program Discover how ADB’s flagship scholarship and fellowship programs—the ADB-Japan Scholarship, ADB-ROK Scholarship, and ADB-Korea Fellowship—are shaping… Nahyun Kim Special Working Lunch Session 2 [Video] Vocational Excellence: The Model of Centers of Vocational Excellence (COVEs) This panel unites EU policymakers, VET associations, and a Center for Vocational Excellence (COVE) to explore how COVEs drive innovation, strengthen… Georgios Zisimos, Doriana Monteleone Special Working Lunch Session 3 [Video] The Triple Helix Approach in Practice Highlighting collaboration among academia, industry, and government, this session examines how the “Triple Helix” model drives innovation,… Ha Wei Special Working Lunch Session 4 [Video] The ASEAN Year of Skills: Results and Actions Ahead This session presents the journey and key outcomes of the ASEAN Year of Skills (AYOS) 2025, highlighting flagship events, regional collaborations,… Akiko Sakamoto, Manuela Prina, Syed Alwi bin Mohamed Sultan, Carmela Torres Parallel Session 2.5 Moderator Mohammed Faiz Shaul Hamid, Senior Labor Economist (Green Jobs), ADB Parallel Session 2.5 Green and Digital Skills in Critical Economic Sectors for the Future of Asia and the Pacific Parallel Session 2.6 Moderator Fook Yen Chong, Principal Social Sector Specialist, Human and Social Development, ADB Parallel Session 2.6 Human Capital Development for Emerging and Critical Technologies in View of Climate Change, AI, and Geopolitical Trends Parallel Session 2.7 Moderator Aniruddha Patil, Principal Investment Specialist, Private Sector Operations Department, ADB Parallel Session 2.7 Shaping the Workforce of Tomorrow: Private Sector’s Investments in Vocational Training and Employment Parallel Session 2.8 Moderator Georgios Zisimos, Head of Policy Advice Unit, European Training Foundation (ETF) Parallel Session 2.8 Technical and Vocational Education and Training: What Skills for the Future and How to Steer Ecosystems for Innovation Parallel Session 2.9 Moderator Arghya Sinha Roy, Director, Climate Change, ADB Parallel Session 2.9 Debate: Is Green a Scam? How Can Green Skills Translate into More and Better Jobs? Parallel Session 2.10 Moderator Zhigang Li, Principal Economist, Economic Research and Development Impact Department, ADB Parallel Session 2.10 Debate: Bingo! Make the Numbers Match: Skills Analytics, Matching and the Macroeconomics of Human Capital Parallel Session 2.11 Moderator Takeshi Ueda, Director, Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development, ADB Parallel Session 2.11 Debate: Is Developing Tech Savvy Agropreneurs a Pipedream? How can Agriculture Education be Revamped? Parallel Session 2.12 Moderator Vasoontara Yiengprugsawan, Senior Universal Health Coverage Specialist (Service Delivery), ADB Parallel Session 2.12 Debate: Are we Tapping Synergies of Interlinkages Between Education and Health Services Delivery? Part A: Spotlight on Addressing Mental Health through Educatio Parallel Session 2.12 Moderator Sakiko Tanaka, Principal Social Sector Specialist, ADB Disclaimer The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area. Event Coordinator/s Manuela Prina Dorothy Geronimo ADB Organizer/s Education Sector Group Read Also [ADB.org] 11th ADB International Education and Skills Forum: Applying a Fresh Lens to Unlock the Power of Human Capital Mother Page: International Skills Forum IESF Booklet [Photos] ADB IESF Topics Education