MANILA, Philippines — The conversation around artificial intelligence in education is shifting from whether institutions will use AI to how they can use it responsibly, intentionally, and with the right support in place. That shift will be a key focus of CanvasCon Philippines 2026, happening October 7 at Conrad Manila.
Hosted by Instructure, the maker of Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), the conference will gather more than 500 education leaders, educators, and institutional decision-makers from across the country under the theme “Shaping Readiness, Together.”
New research commissioned by Instructure offers a look at how Philippine institutions are approaching this transition.
The study, conducted by The Fourth Wall in August 2026, surveyed 207 education practitioners from higher education and technical-vocational institutions in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao.
AI literacy and digital-skills programs are already offered by half (50%) of the institutions represented by respondents. Staff-facing AI tools for teaching and course design are reported by 41%, while 40% report AI tools integrated into course content or delivery. Another 38% report AI-powered tutoring or learning assistants.
Only 18% say their institution is still exploring AI without any current approach.
The research also points to areas where institutions are still building readiness. Respondents rated confidence in their institution having a clear AI strategy for lifelong-learning pathways at 3.08 out of 5. Confidence that faculty and staff have the necessary training to use AI effectively and support diverse learners was 2.87 out of 5.
Darren Read, Managing Director, Asia Pacific at Instructure, and John Brylle Bae, Partner and Research Director at The Fourth Wall, will examine these findings at CanvasCon and discuss the move toward more supported and equitable AI-enabled learning.
“The Philippines is moving quickly to expand flexible learning, lifelong learning pathways and digital delivery across higher education. That makes the conversations happening here especially relevant to where education in Asia Pacific is heading. CanvasCon Philippines is a chance to hear directly from local institutions about how they are responding to these shifts, and what it will take to ensure more learners have the skills, tools and support to be ready for what comes next,” said Darren Read.
The event’s three pillars—AI with Intention, Ready to Learn and Ready to Engage, and Skills That Last—will provide a framework for conversations around AI, engagement, digital learning, and long-term skills.
International speaker Danny Liu, Professor of Educational Technologies at the University of Sydney, co-chair of the university’s AI in Education working group and leader of the Cogniti.ai initiative, will bring a research-backed perspective on human-centered and responsible AI adoption in academic environments.
The program will also feature Zach Pendleton, Chief Architect at Instructure, and Professor Martin Bean CBE AM, CEO of The Bean Centre, co-author of Toolkit for Turbulence, and former Vice-Chancellor of RMIT University and The Open University.
Philippine education institutions represented include Our Lady of Fatima University, Holy Angel University, University of San Jose Recoletos, De La Salle University, PAREF Woodrose School, University of St. La Salle, Far Eastern University, University of Santo Tomas, and the University of Sydney.
Pendleton will discuss how technology platforms can support institutions as they navigate multiple changes at once.
“A decision we make in the platform this quarter shows up in a lecturer’s Monday morning three years from now. That’s the part of this job I take most seriously. Philippine institutions are moving on curriculum reform, flexible pathways, and AI policy at the same time, and they need technology that can absorb all three without breaking what already works. I’ll share where the platform is headed and how we’re building it so no institution has to choose between keeping up and staying steady,” said Zach Pendleton.
The research represents the perceptions of participating education practitioners and is intended to provide an indicative view of institutional priorities and readiness, rather than a nationally representative picture of Philippine education.
CanvasCon Philippines 2026 is open to the education community nationwide.
