Background

The ASEFClassNet EmpowerEd 2026 Projects build on ASEFClassnet’s new initiative first launched in 2025, celebrating the leadership, creativity, and courage of teachers across Asia and Europe who are reimagining education from the ground up. In 2026, seven EmpowerEd Projects represent a bold, collective response, by teachers, for teachers.

Each project is co-designed and delivered by ASEFClassNet alumni who are tackling real-world challenges with both local relevance and global impact. From exploring the ethical use of AI in schools to designing climate-conscious curricula and fostering resilient, wellbeing-focused classrooms, these initiatives reflect a shared belief: empowered teachers drive meaningful, innovative, and sustainable change in education.

Rooted in inclusion, equity, collaboration, and professional growth, the projects are shaped through peer exchange, interdisciplinary dialogue, and action-based learning. What sets the EmpowerEd approach apart is its teacher-led model, amplifying educators’ voices not only as practitioners, but also as designers, researchers, and changemakers.

What are the EmpowerEd Projects?

• 4-5 weeks long learning programmes
• designed by teachers for teachers 
• to learn from each other, exchange, and build new connections across Asia and Europe 

Who is Eligible to Apply?

• Secondary, high and vocational school teachers or school leaders from 50* Asian and European countries are eligible to apply for one of these EmpowerEd projects.

*Asia: Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.

*Europe: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.