11th ADB International Education and Skills Forum: Applying a Fresh Lens to Unlock the Power of Human Capital 3 to 5 December 2025 ADB will host the 11th edition of its International Education and Skills Forum themed "Applying a Fresh Lens to Unlock the Power of Human Capital" on 3-5 December 2025 at its headquarters in Manila. This year’s deliberations seek to enable education systems to respond quickly to transformational trends, and to better redress persistent challenges in the education and skills development sector. Objectives The forum will revolve around 3x3x3 lens: Three themes addressing transformative features to reimagine and rejuvenate education systems: Realizing the potential of digital transformation of education and EdTech at scale. Promoting green and climate resilience skills to serve priority economic sectors for inclusive and sustainable growth; and Unlocking the role of education and training for future jobs in multi-sector contexts such as health and elderly care, sustainable and high-tech agriculture, sustainable transport, clean energy and resilient water sector. Three dimensions addressing targets, standards and impact aspirations in education and training delivery: Enhancing quality, its measurement and monitoring including student learning assessments and employability results. Supporting inclusion and equity, including attention to newer dimensions of exclusion and disadvantage; and Building the future-readiness of education and training systems. Three levels of education and training systems: Identifying new departures for investments in K-12 from early childhood education to senior secondary education. Channeling investments in technical and vocational education and training to deliver results in employability, productivity and competitiveness; and Accelerating developments in tertiary education and research and innovation in future oriented areas of science and technology. Target participants The forum aims to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders, including education ministers, global leaders, experts, policymakers, academia, private sector representatives, international organizations, and leading global experts. These participants will strategize new and rejuvenated approaches, investments, and partnerships to unlock the full potential of human capital across Asia and the Pacific region. Program and Learning Materials Impact Stories 03 December 2025 04 December 2025 05 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… 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… 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… 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… 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… Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) 7: 00 - 8:45 am Arrrival of Participants 9:00 - 9:30 am - Opening Opening Remarks 9:30 - 10:45 am - Spotlight Session with Education Ministers Big Bold Ideas for the Future of Education: Unlocking the Power of Human Capital in Asia and the Pacific 10:45 - 11:10 am Morning coffee 11:10 am - 12:30 pm - Spotlight Session with Education Ministers Big Bold Ideas for the Future of Education: Scaling-up Quality, Inclusion, and Equity 12:30 - 1:45 pm Lunch break 1:45 - 3:15 pm - Parallel Session 1.1 Opening Doors for All Learners: Highlighting the International Day of Persons with Disabilities Parallel Session 1.2 Micro-credentials: Building Trust in a Digital Era Parallel Session 1.3 Smarter, Faster, Adaptable: How AI and Humans Can Transform the Future of Learning Parallel Session 1.4 From Fragility to Resilience to Empowerment: How Technology Transforms Opportunities During Crises and in Last Mile Areas Parallel Session 1.5 Innosphere of EdTech and Digital Solutions 3:15 - 3:45 pm Coffee break 3:45 - 5:15 pm - Parallel Session 1.6 Innovative Financing for Education and Role of Philanthropies Parallel Session 1.7 Debate: Does Technology Truly Transform Learning Outcomes? Parallel Session 1.8 Debate: Are Next Generation Models for Teachers, Trainers, and Policymakers Emerging to Keep Pace with Change? Parallel Session 1.9 Debate: How Can Governments Spend Smart, Scale Fast in Financing Digital Transformation in Education that Leaves No One Behind? Parallel Session 1.10 Debate: How Speedily Can Higher Education Institutions Build AI-Enabled Research and Innovation Ecosystems? 5:30 pm onwards Reception and Celebration of Exceptional Partners Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) 8:00 - 8:45 am Arrrival of Participants 9:00 - 9:15 am Opening 9:15- 10:15 am - Plenary Session Emerging Investment Priorities and Innovative Regional Approaches for Education and Skills Development Towards a Sustainable Future 10:15 - 10:45 am Morning coffee 10:45 am - 12:00 pm - Parallel Session 2.1 Powering Data Use for Faster Response and Higher Impact through Education and Skills Development Parallel Session 2.2 Shaping Multisector Investments for Quality Jobs of the Future Parallel Session 2.3 Delivering on Lifelong Learning and Readiness of Children and Youth for the Future Parallel Session 2.4 Pushing the Technology Frontier in Education to Enhance Access, Quality, and Equity: The Role of the Private Sector 12:30 - 1:30 pm - Lunch Special Session 1 Scholarship Programs, Student Mobility, and Opportunities for Cooperation Lunch Special Session 2 Vocational Excellence: The Model of Centers of Vocational Excellence (COVEs) Lunch Special Session 3 The Triple Helix Approach in Practice Lunch Special Session 4 The ASEAN Year of Skills: Results and Actions Ahead 1:45 - 3:15 pm - Parallel Session 2.5 Green and Digital Skills in Critical Economic Sectors for the Future of Asia and the Pacific 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 Shaping the Workforce of Tomorrow: Private Sector’s Investments in Vocational Training and Employment Parallel Session 2.8 Technical and Vocational Education and Training: What Skills for the Future and How to Steer Ecosystems for Innovation 3:15 - 3:45 pm Coffee break 3:45 - 5:15 pm - Parallel Session 2.9 Debate: Is Green a Scam? How Can Green Skills Translate into More and Better Jobs? Parallel Session 2.10 Debate: Bingo! Make the Numbers Match: Skills Analytics, Matching and the Macroeconomics of Human Capital Parallel Session 2.11 Debate: Is Developing Tech Savvy Agropreneurs a Pipedream? How can Agriculture Education be Revamped? Parallel Session 2.12 Debate: Are we Tapping Synergies of Interlinkages Between Education and Health Services Delivery? Session / Activity Title Speaker(s) 7:45 - 9:00 am Arrrival of Participants 9:00 - 10:30 am - Regional Session 3.1 East and Central West Asia Regional Session 3.2 Pacific Region 10:30 - 11:00 am Morning coffee 11:00 am - 12:30 pm - Regional Session 3.3 South Asia Regional Session 3.4 Southeast Asia 12:30 - 2:00 pm Lunch Break 2:00 - 2:45 pm - Awards Ceremony The Power of Learning 2:45 - 4:00 pm - Closing Inspiration for Action - Lens of the Future 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 Topics Education