United Board Launches AI Governance for Higher Education Institutions in Asia Workshop Series
The United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia has officially launched the AI Governance for Higher Education Institutions in Asia Workshop Series with a successful online orientation session, marking the beginning of a regional capacity-building initiative focused on responsible and ethical AI use in higher education.
The orientation session brought together 60+ committed participants from 21 higher education institutions across 8 countries and regions in Asia, including university leaders, administrators, and faculty members. This diverse cohort reflects the growing recognition across the region of the need for clear, values-driven, and institutionally grounded approaches to AI governance.
About the Workshop Series
The workshop series consists of five interactive virtual sessions conducted from January to May 2026, with participants working in institutional teams throughout the program. The series is designed to support institutions in developing AI Governance Action Plans that address ethics, policy, regulatory considerations, governance structures, and practical implementation in teaching, research, and administration.
During the orientation, participants were introduced to the overall structure of the program, expectations for participation, and the collaborative learning approach that will guide the sessions. Emphasis was placed on peer learning, cross-institutional dialogue, and applying governance principles to real institutional contexts.
Workshop Facilitators
The workshop series is led by two experts in AI governance and policy:
Dr. Robert Kerwin Billones
He has led and co-led numerous applied AI projects through the Intelligent Systems Laboratory, supported by university, government, and international funding agencies. With over 115 international publications, his work spans applied AI, computer vision, cyber-physical systems, digital twins, and AI-driven process optimization. He is a founding member and Asia Coordinator for AI Governance within the Asia-Europe for Artificial Intelligence Network organized by the Asia-Europe Foundation, contributing to international white papers on AI governance, AI in education, and AI for sustainable development. Dr. Billones also serves as a research group member of the AI Policy Clinic at the Center for AI and Digital Policy and as a member of the Philippine national standards committee for AI.
Jerrold Soh
His research centrally asks how technology can, will, should be used to improve the legal system. Focus areas include the legal use of AI, network analytics, as well as AI governance, regulation, and liability. His works have appeared in leading journals such as Philosophical Transactions and Legal Studies. He teaches the law of torts as well as an omnibus course on law and technology.
Jerrold started programming computers in 2010. He is most comfortable with Python and is presently attempting to figure out vibe coding. While studying law and economics at NUS, he co-founded a legal analytics startup Lex Quanta. He joined SMU in 2018 and obtained an LLM (a Law Master's, not an AI model) from Harvard Law School in 2020.
The orientation session was hosted by Christian Aung, Educational Technology Officer at the United Board, who outlined the objectives of the series and the United Board’s broader commitment to supporting institutional leadership and innovation in higher education across Asia.
Looking Ahead
As artificial intelligence continues to reshape higher education, the United Board remains committed to helping institutions navigate both its opportunities and risks. This workshop series represents an important step in strengthening institutional capacity, ethical leadership, and collaborative learning around AI governance in the region.
The United Board looks forward to the discussions, shared insights, and institutional progress that will emerge over the coming months as participants work together to advance responsible AI practices in higher education.
