CHED calls for AI integration in schools

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) called on Philippine universities and colleges to embrace artificial intelligence (AI), inclusivity, and digital innovation. 

“AI is no longer the future. It is actually here—from adaptive learning platforms to virtual laboratories,” CHED Commissioner Dr. Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela said in her opening keynote at the CanvasCon Philippines 2025 held Wednesday at the Grand Hyatt Manila in Taguig City.

Valenzuela urged higher education institutions (HEIs) to accelerate digital maturity, integrating AI and rethinking assessment models to ensure graduates remain competitive in an evolving workforce. 

She warned that many education systems are still preparing students for yesterday’s jobs.

“In ASEAN alone, studies show that by 2030 more than half of existing jobs will require advanced digital skills,” she said. 

“Jobs will change, skills will evolve, technologies will advance—but learning must never stop. AI will make that possible, and that is how we prepare students not just for the future of work but for the future of life.”

The one-day conference gathered educators, administrators, and private sector leaders to discuss practical strategies for reimagining the learner journey through AI and digital platforms. 

Among the central themes was agentic AI—its potential to personalize learning, transform teaching, and simplify academic management.

“AI shouldn’t just make our lives easier; it should make our world better. And that will only happen if ethics, equity, and sustainability are built into the foundation,” Valenzuela said.

Key speakers included Ryan Lufkin, Instructure Vice President for Global Academic Strategy; Harrison Kelly, Instructure Managing Director for APAC; Martin Bean, CEO of The Bean Center; Leopoldo Valdez, OIC President of Holy Angel University; and Alma Emerita V. De La Cruz, Senior Vice President of FEU Roosevelt.

A highlight panel titled “Today’s Learner Journey, Reimagined” examined how digital tools are shaping more flexible and connected learner experiences, which CHED has been advancing in its post-pandemic education reforms.

For CHED, CanvasCon 2025 underscored the need for HEIs to move from experimentation to full-scale digital transformation, positioning Philippine higher education alongside international standards. —VBL, GMA Integrated News