SEAMEO INNOTECH Joins Regional Effort to Strengthen STEM Education Leadership
SEAMEO INNOTECH joined regional partners in launching a new programme that puts school leadership at the center of improving STEM education across Southeast Asia.
Representing INNOTECH, Dr. Robbie Macalde, Manager of the Learning Development and Management Office, and Ms. Joan Atienza, Senior Specialist and Head of the School Leadership Development Unit, participated in the Kick-off Event for the STEM Education Leadership for Change Programme on 5 February 2026 in Bangkok. The event was organized by SEAMEO STEM-ED, with support from Chevron, and hosted at the Teachers’ Council of Thailand.
The programme responds to a growing recognition across the region: while innovative STEM teaching is happening in classrooms, lasting improvement depends on strong leadership. School leaders and education authorities play a key role in guiding instruction, supporting teachers, and ensuring that quality practices are sustained and scaled.
The initiative builds on lessons from the STEM ED-initiated Southeast Asian Teacher Education Programme (SEA-TEP), which has reached over 1,800 educators since 2023. SEA-TEP showed that evidence-based STEM teaching aligned with the PISA framework can improve both teaching practices and students’ problem-solving skills—but also highlighted that these gains cannot last without active leadership support.
The STEM Education Leadership for Change is Implemented by SEAMEO STEM-ED with support from Chevron and in partnership with SEAMOLEC, RECSAM, SEAMEO INNOTECH, Caravan of Knowledge, Michigan State University (MSU), and national partners. The programme focuses on strengthening leadership practices, supporting whole-school improvement, and promoting evidence-informed decision-making.
In its first year of implementation in the Philippines, the programme will involve around 80 school leaders, supervisors, and STEM teachers, nominated by the Department of Education (DepEd).
By connecting effective classroom practices with leadership development and regional collaboration, the STEM Education Leadership for Change Programme aims to support sustainable and scalable improvements in STEM education—helping schools better prepare learners for an increasingly complex world.
SEAMEO INNOTECH Launches Future-Focused Innovators SEAL Program
The SEAMEO Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology (INNOTECH) has officially launched the Innovators in Education: Southeast Asian School Leadership (Innovators SEAL) Program, a redesigned and future-focused leadership initiative designed to prepare education leaders for an era of rapid digital transformation. The program’s inaugural run will take place from April 27 to July 31, 2026, and will be offered in both blended and fully online formats.
35 participants from SEAMEO members and selected Global South countries were invited for the blended version. The purely online version, on the other hand, is open to all school leaders from SEAMEO member countries and beyond. Innovators SEAL reimagines school leadership development in response to the disruptions of the Fourth and emerging Fifth Industrial Revolutions, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the global shift toward sustainable energy futures.
Building on the success of its predecessor, the SEA School Leadership Program (SEA SLP)—which has trained over 300 school heads and education officials since 2020—the Innovators SEAL represents a “redefined purpose.” The shift responds to participant feedback and emerging education priorities, emphasizing not only traditional leadership competencies but the ability to lead in a world shaped by complexity, technology, and constant change.
Aligned with SEAMEO INNOTECH’s 11th Five-Year Development Plan, the program integrates technology-enabled leadership, systems thinking, and innovation management across its modules. Participants will engage in reflective leadership practice, analyze global and regional trends affecting education, design future-ready school strategies, and develop AI-supported innovations to address real-world school challenges. A strong emphasis is also placed on professional learning networks and communities of practice to strengthen regional collaboration.
INNOTECH describes the program as a commitment to cultivating “empowered changemakers” who can guide schools toward inclusive, resilient, and future-ready learning ecosystems across Southeast Asia and the Global South.
Brochures for the course are available through this link. Below is the link to the registration for the fully online version of the course: https://bit.ly/InnovatorsSEAL_FullyOnline_Registration_2026
Note: INNOTECH is one of the 24 specialized centers of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). The Center supports educational development in Southeast Asia and beyond through capacity-building programs, research and innovation, knowledge management, and special initiatives that respond to regional education needs.