Background

The ASEFClassNet EmpowerEd Projects in 2025 are new initiatives by the ASEFClassNet Team. We introduced it to celebrate the leadership, creativity, and courage of teachers across Asia and Europe who are reimagining education from the ground up. In a time marked by rapid technological shifts, climate urgency, and rising concerns for mental and emotional wellbeing, these 7 pioneering Empowered Projects represent a bold, collective response – by teachers, for teachers.

Each project was co-designed and implemented by our ASEFClassNet alumni educators who are addressing real-world challenges with local relevance and global resonance. Whether exploring the ethical integration of AI in schools, designing climate-conscious curricula, or fostering resilient, wellbeing focused classrooms, these initiatives reflect a shared belief: that empowered teachers are catalysts for meaningful, innovative, holistic and sustainable change in education. 

These projects are rooted in values of inclusion, equity, collaboration, and professional growth. Developed through peer exchange, interdisciplinary dialogue, and action-based learning, the initiatives showcase what’s possible when educators are given the space and support to lead. What sets the EmpowerEd approach apart is its teacher-led model. It amplifies educators’ voices not just as practitioners, but 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.