Capacity-Building Programme on Rights-Respecting AI Governance

The Asia–Europe Foundation (ASEF), together with its co-organisers of the Informal ASEM Human Rights Seminar series (ASEMHRS), invites applications from early-career professionals for a three-day, in-person capacity-building programme titled:

Future-Proofing AI: Building Human-in-the-Loop Governance Skills for Rights-Respecting AI

📍 Yogyakarta, Indonesia,  30 March – 1 April 2026

About the Programme

This intensive training programme aims to strengthen the capacity of professionals across Asia and Europe to integrate human rights principles into artificial intelligence (AI) governance.

Delivered by experts from both regions, the programme adopts a multidisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach, combining policy analysis, case-based learning, and collaborative design exercises.

The training is structured around three core objectives:

1. Strengthening understanding of the relationship between AI and human rights
2. Building the ability to critically assess AI-related human rights issues
3. Developing the capacity to design context-sensitive, people-centred AI governance approaches

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:

• Explain the relationship between AI and human rights, including key rights considerations in AI development and deployment
• Compare and discuss regional perspectives on AI and human rights in Asia and Europe
• Critically assess AI-related human rights issues through collaborative analysis of real-world cases
• Identify emerging trends, challenges, and key stakeholders in AI governance
• Design context-sensitive and people-centred AI governance approaches relevant to their sectors
• Develop action-oriented plans to mitigate human rights risks in AI systems
• Contribute to the formulation of a broad regional framework for transparent, accountable, and rights-respecting AI governance

Target Participants and Eligibility

The programme is designed for early-career professionals (with 1-5  years of relevant professional experience) who:

• Reside in ASEM countries, and
• Are currently involved in implementing, evaluating, or advocating for AI deployment

To ensure diverse perspectives, the cohort (approximately 25–30 participants) will include representatives from:

• Industry Practitioners
  Professionals responsible for AI deployment decisions affecting the industry and the public
• Civil Society and Advocacy Organisations
  Actors documenting harms, mobilising accountability, and advocating for affected communities
• Researchers and Academics
  Individuals contributing to public discourse and cross-sectoral knowledge exchange
• Emerging Policy and Regulatory Professionals
  Practitioners working to operationalise AI governance frameworks and institutional approaches

Training Format

The programme will take place over three days, with approximately 70 hours of total learning activities, including pre-training and post-training components.

Please refer to ASEMHRS23 Training – Call for Applications for detailed information on the programme structure and methodology.

Travel and Accommodation

For selected participants, the co-organisers will cover:

• Return airfare to Yogyakarta
• Four (4) nights of accommodation
• Meals and refreshments during the training programme

Further logistical details will be shared with confirmed participants.

How to Apply

Interested applicants must complete the online application form by:

🗓 Sunday, 8 February 2026 (23:59 Singapore time)

As part of the application, applicants are required to upload a letter of organisational endorsement or nomination (in English), outlining how participation in the programme aligns with the organisation’s priorities and activities. Please note that students without relevant work experience are not eligible to apply.

About the organisers 

The Informal Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Seminar on Human Rights series was launched in 1997 to strengthen relations between civil society actors and governments in Asia and Europe on human rights issues. The Seminar series is co-organised by the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF), the Raoul Wallenberg Institute (nominated by the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs), the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs, the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, with support of the European Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

The training is organised in partnership with Center for Digital Society (CfDS), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM).