Ateneo Professor Dr. Didith Rodrigo Elected President of International AI Education Society

Dr. Maria Mercedes "Didith" T. Rodrigo of Ateneo de Manila University has been elected president of the International Artificial Intelligence in Education Society for 2027 to 2029.

• Historic Leadership: Ateneo de Manila University professor Dr. Didith Rodrigo has been elected president of the International Artificial Intelligence in Education (IAIED) Society for 2027 to 2029, becoming its first Asian woman president.
• Global AI Community: The international organization has over 1,500 members across 40 countries, bringing together researchers in artificial intelligence, education, and psychology.
• Inclusive AI Education: Rodrigo's research focuses on making AI-powered education more accessible, equitable, and effective, particularly for schools facing limited resources and connectivity challenges.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the way people learn, teach, and access information. As schools around the world explore how AI can improve educational experiences, a distinguished Filipino professor from Ateneo de Manila University is preparing to take on a major leadership role in shaping the future of AI-powered education internationally.

Dr. Maria Mercedes "Didith" T. Rodrigo, a professor at Ateneo's Department of Information Systems and Computer Science (DISCS), has been elected president of the International Artificial Intelligence in Education (IAIED) Society. She will serve from 2027 to 2029, becoming the first Asian woman to lead the prestigious international organization.

Her election represents a significant milestone for Philippine education and technology research, highlighting the growing contributions of Filipino academics to global conversations about artificial intelligence and its responsible application in classrooms.

Leading an International Community of AI Education Experts

The IAIED Society is an international organization comprising more than 1,500 members from 40 countries. Its community brings together specialists in computer science, education, and psychology who are developing technologies and research-based approaches to improve teaching and learning.

Its members include researchers associated with leading institutions such as Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pennsylvania, University College London, and the University of Hong Kong.

As president, Dr. Rodrigo will help guide this international community in advancing research, collaboration, and the development of AI-based learning interventions and educational environments.

Her leadership comes at an important time when generative AI, intelligent tutoring systems, learning analytics, and personalized educational technologies are increasingly influencing how students acquire knowledge and how educators deliver lessons.

A Filipino Researcher Advancing AI in Education

Beyond her teaching responsibilities at Ateneo, Dr. Rodrigo heads the university's Laboratory for the Learning Sciences and serves as co-head of the Ateneo Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality Lab.

Her research interests include artificial intelligence in education, learning analytics, and educational games, particularly how technology can support meaningful learning experiences.

An important dimension of her work is understanding whether AI innovations genuinely benefit teachers and students, especially in developing countries where access to technology remains uneven.

Rather than focusing exclusively on technological capabilities, her research also examines practical implementation, educational outcomes, and the conditions necessary for AI tools to succeed in real classrooms.

This perspective is particularly relevant to the Philippines, where schools face different levels of access to digital devices, reliable internet connectivity, and technology training.

Addressing AI Accessibility and Equity in Philippine Schools

In 2024, Dr. Rodrigo collaborated with researcher May Marie P. Talandron-Felipe on a study conducted with the Philippines' Second Congressional Commission on Education.

The researchers interviewed 48 Philippine public-school teachers to understand their experiences, attitudes, and preparedness regarding artificial intelligence in education.

Their findings revealed considerable enthusiasm for AI's potential benefits. However, they also identified challenges involving limited knowledge, insufficient equipment, and unreliable connectivity.

The study emphasized the importance of sustained teacher training, appropriate technological tools, and continued human participation in educational decision-making.

These findings underscore an essential principle: AI can become a valuable classroom resource, but successful implementation requires more than simply introducing new software.

Teachers need proper support, while students must have equitable opportunities to benefit from these emerging technologies.

A Historic Achievement for Ateneo and the Philippines

Dr. Rodrigo has been part of the IAIED Society since 2007, making her election the culmination of nearly two decades of involvement with the international research community.

She considers the organization highly influential in her professional development and views her upcoming presidency as an opportunity to give back to a community that has helped shape her academic career.

As the first Asian woman elected to the position, Dr. Rodrigo also represents an important step toward broader representation in international AI research leadership.

Her achievement demonstrates that Filipino educators and researchers can play meaningful roles in determining how emerging technologies are developed and applied worldwide.

For the Philippines, her presidency offers an opportunity to bring greater attention to the educational realities of developing nations, ensuring that discussions about AI-powered learning also consider accessibility, inclusion, and practical classroom needs.

As artificial intelligence continues to reshape education, Dr. Rodrigo's leadership could help strengthen international collaboration toward making these technologies more useful, responsible, and beneficial for learners everywhere.