MANILA, Philippines — Artificial intelligence is no longer only a future-facing topic for Philippine education. New Instructure research shows that AI tools and programs are already being used across participating institutions, while confidence in institutional strategy and faculty training remains more measured.
The findings will be discussed at CanvasCon Philippines 2026, which takes place on October 7 at Conrad Manila in Pasay City.
Hosted by Instructure, the maker of Canvas Learning Management System (LMS), the event will bring together more than 500 higher education leaders, educators, and institutional decision-makers from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao under the theme “Shaping Readiness, Together.”
The Philippines-specific research was conducted by The Fourth Wall in August 2026 among 207 education practitioners from higher education and technical-vocational institutions across Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Metro Davao.
The findings show several forms of AI use already taking place. Half of respondents (50%) said their institutions offer AI literacy or digital-skills programs for students. Forty-one percent reported staff-facing AI tools supporting teaching and course design, while 40% said AI tools are integrated into course content or delivery. AI-powered tutoring or learning assistants were reported by 38%.
Only 18% said their institution was still exploring AI without any current approach.
But when respondents were asked about institutional readiness, confidence was more moderate. Confidence in having a clear AI strategy within lifelong-learning pathways was rated 3.08 out of 5. Confidence that faculty and staff have the training needed to use AI effectively and support diverse learners was lower at 2.87 out of 5.
At CanvasCon, Darren Read, Managing Director, Asia Pacific at Instructure, and John Brylle Bae, Partner and Research Director at The Fourth Wall, will unpack the findings and discuss the implications for institutions moving from AI experimentation toward more intentional adoption.
“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 will organize discussions around three areas: AI with Intention, Ready to Learn and Ready to Engage, and Skills That Last. The goal is to give institutions a peer-led space to examine how technology, teaching, engagement, and long-term skills development can work together.
Philippine participants include representatives from 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.
The international program features Zach Pendleton, Chief Architect at Instructure; Professor Martin Bean CBE AM, CEO of The Bean Centre and former Vice-Chancellor of RMIT University and The Open University; and Danny Liu, Professor of Educational Technologies at the University of Sydney and co-chair of its AI in Education working group.
Pendleton will discuss the roadmap for the Instructure Learning Platform and how institutions can develop digital ecosystems that can adapt to long-term changes.
“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,” he said.
The survey represents the perceptions of participating practitioners and provides an indicative view of institutional practices and readiness. It is not nationally representative of all Philippine education institutions.
CanvasCon Philippines 2026 is open to the education community across the country.