The ASEAN Foundation has received endorsement of Southeast Asian education officials for an expanded program to equip more than 1.7 million students, teachers, and university staff with practical AI skills by the end of 2028.

In a statement on Friday, the ASEAN Foundation said the program, AI Ready ASEAN, forms the next phase of an effort now becoming the AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific. The fund is a regional initiative led by the Asian social-investment network AVPN with support from Google’s philanthropy Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

The new phase shifts from raising awareness to applied AI learning, helping K-12 teachers, university students, and faculty, particularly in AI in teaching, research, and work. It will work with local implementing partners in ASEAN member states to develop locally adapted curricula and coordinate with education ministries.

The AI Opportunity Fund, launched in 2024, is a $35 million regional initiative. By the end of June, the fund had trained more than 500,000 workers and 50,000 small businesses across the Asia-Pacific.

Piti Srisangnam, the ASEAN Foundation’s executive director, said the program was moving beyond awareness to embedding practical AI skills across the region’s education systems. Marija Ralic, head of Google.org for the Asia-Pacific, said AI literacy was becoming a foundational skill and that educators were central to helping students use the technology responsibly.

The foundation said the program aligns with ASEAN’s socio-cultural and economic strategic plans to 2030 and its education work plan.

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