Chonburi, Thailand, 15 July 2026 – Following the conclusion of the SEAMEO Centre Directors Meeting (CDM) 2026, held on 14–15 July 2026 in Chonburi, Thailand, the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Early Childhood Care Education and Parenting (SEAMEO CECCEP) signed Cooperation Agreements (CAs) with SEAMEO INNOTECH and SEAMEO STEM-ED to strengthen regional collaboration in advancing research, innovation, and capacity building in Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
The signing of these agreements marked an important milestone in SEAMEO CECCEP’s efforts to expand partnerships within the SEAMEO network and foster collaborative initiatives that responded to emerging educational challenges and technological developments in Southeast Asia.
Through the Cooperation Agreement with SEAMEO STEM-ED, SEAMEO CECCEP agreed to collaborate on the initiative “Collaborative Research and Capacity Building on Artificial Intelligence in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).” The collaboration aimed to explore the opportunities and challenges of AI integration in early childhood education while strengthening research capacity, developing knowledge resources, and promoting innovation to support quality ECCE practices.
The partnership focused on joint research activities, capacity-building programmes, knowledge exchange, and the development of evidence-based approaches to ensure that the advancement of AI aligned with children's developmental needs, ethical considerations, and inclusive educational practices.
Meanwhile, the Cooperation Agreement between SEAMEO CECCEP and SEAMEO INNOTECH strengthened collaboration in research, professional development, knowledge sharing, and policy dialogue related to educational innovation, including the exploration of AI applications to support the improvement of ECCE systems in the region.
Through this partnership, both Centres agreed to facilitate the exchange of expertise, research findings, and best practices to enhance institutional capacity and support educators, policymakers, and stakeholders in responding to the evolving landscape of education.
The signing of the Cooperation Agreements followed discussions during the SEAMEO Centre Directors Meeting (CDM) 2026, where SEAMEO Centre Directors discussed strategic priorities for strengthening regional cooperation. One of the key discussions highlighted the importance of cross-centre collaboration in harnessing emerging technologies, including AI, to support the future development of education.
The agreements were expected to facilitate collaborative research, joint capacity-building programmes, academic exchanges, publications, and other collaborative initiatives that would contribute to advancing innovative, inclusive, and evidence-based approaches in Early Childhood Care and Education across Southeast Asia.
Through these collaborations, SEAMEO CECCEP reaffirmed its commitment to promoting regional partnerships and supporting the development of sustainable solutions that enhanced the quality of ECCE through research, innovation, and shared expertise.
The signing of these Cooperation Agreements represented another significant step toward realizing SEAMEO’s collective vision of advancing education in Southeast Asia through collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange.
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