TERMS OF REFERENCE

Please fill out the Request for Proposal document here to submit your application.

BACKGROUND

Three decades after ASEAN was established, ASEAN leaders recognised that: there remained inadequate shared prosperity, ASEAN awareness and contact among the people of ASEAN. It was of this concern that ASEAN leaders established ASEAN Foundation in Jakarta, Indonesia, at ASEAN's 30th Anniversary Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 15 December 1997.

The ASEAN Foundation is an organisation from and for the people of ASEAN. The Foundation exists because of one vision: to build a cohesive and prosperous ASEAN Community. As an ASEAN body, the Foundation is tasked to support ASEAN mainly in promoting awareness, identity, interaction, and development of the people of ASEAN. For more information, visit: https://aseanfoundation.org

RESEARCH OVERVIEW

 In today's technology landscape, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has rapidly transformed various sectors, from economics to healthcare. Reports revealed AI adoption can boost economic growth, expedite productivity, and complement human work. In the health sector, AI can examine diseases, enhance effective treatment, and provide accurate diagnoses. Many predict that AI has a positive impact on its users.

In Southeast Asia, AI adoption is rapidly evolving and has become the major topic discussed nowadays. Companies invest a lot of money to integrate AI into their businesses. Governments develop frameworks and policies to regulate AI’s usage. Researchers gather and analyse data to explore issues related to AI.

While AI offers massive opportunities, it can also be disruptive, presenting unique challenges that require new solutions. As AI complements human work, the number of unemployed people will increase. AI can decrease human creativity because of its ability to imitate by producing artwork, music, and even writing. Its existence will hinder originality and innovation. Moreover, AI requires a large amount of data to operate effectively, which can threaten privacy concerns. Personal data collection and other sensitive information can be exposed, which leads to potential cybercriminals.

Therefore, it is crucial to develop a strategy and have regulations in place to prevent such a disadvantage. ASEAN has taken steps to address this. The Committee on Science, Technology, and Innovation (COSTI) held its first Workshop on Emerging Policy Approaches to Generative AI in December 2023. The most significant regional challenge is preparing ASEAN youth, educators, and parents to be AI future-ready by 2026.

Equipping people with the necessary skills to navigate AI appropriately is essential. Report produced by ERIA (Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia) highlights the importance of educational transformation to incorporate digital and AI literacy into their learning practices. It is to prepare individuals with the shifting employment landscape which utilise advanced technology including AI. Hence, educators, youth, and parents who are part of the education system must be AI illiterate.

To contribute to these efforts, the ASEAN Foundation, with support from Google.org, is implementing the AI Ready ASEAN programme from 2024 to 2027. This regional programme includes training of trainers, in-depth AI research, national and regional policy dialogues promoting responsible AI, and a regional campaign emphasising AI as a vital future-ready skill. The programme aims to engage and empower over 5.5 million ASEAN citizens, ensuring they can access and benefit from the evolving opportunities in the emerging era of AI.

In connection with research implementation, the ASEAN Foundation will work with interested research institutions, private agencies or other relevant bodies across 10 ASEAN Member States (AMS) to assist the Foundation with conducting research and diseeminating research findings on AI readiness amongst educators across 10 ASEAN Member States. The findings will include the identification of the AI fluency skill gap among educators and assess the integration of AI ethics within that gap. The research will also involve educators from underserved communities, providing insights into their unique challenges and opportunities.

RESEARCH SCOPE

The research aims to measure the educators’ AI readiness level across 10 AMS in incorporating AI into their educational activities, identify AI fluency skill gaps among educators, and evaluate the integration of AI ethics in their educational settings and their effects on students and parents.

By including youth and parents, the study acknowledges the broader impact of AI education beyond the classroom, recognising that AI literacy and ethical considerations are crucial for the entire community. This holistic approach ensures that the benefits and challenges of AI intergration are understood and addressed from multiple perspectives, fostering a more inclusive and informed society.

Thus, the ASEAN Foundation seeks an interested research institution, private agency or any other relevant organisation to be a Lead Researcher Consultant based in one of the 10 AMS to conduct research and disseminate research findings as part of the AI-Ready programme.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The Consultant will conduct both qualitative and quantitiave research to assess the level of readiness of the educators in the 10 AMS. The assessment should include level of understanding, attitude and behaviour that reflects educators’ level of AI fluency. The Consultant will also measure how they integrate their AI fluency into their educational activities and how the activities affect their students and parents. The research findings should be analysed (desk-based review) to understand the issue.

Illustrative research questions revolve around three focuses:

1. How prepared are educators in the 10 AMS, particularly in areas with high internet penetration, to integrate generative AI into their educational practices and settings?

1.a What is the current level of AI readiness among educators, youth, parents?

1.b How willing are educators to integrate AI into their educational practices and settings?

1.c How will educators communicate with students and parents on the benefits and risks of using generative AI in their curriculum?

1. How can AI adoption benefit educators and affect their students and parents?
2. What are the most common ethical issues ethical issues arise from applying generative AI in educational practices, particularly over-dependence on technology, misinformation and plagiarism?

The ASEAN Foundation expects this research to include the Gender, Equality, and Social Inclusion (GESI) in the research questions.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND LIMITATIONS

The ASEAN Foundation expects the utilisation of mixed methods design in the 10 AMS. In general, data collection methods for the research include:

• Quantitative Survey addressed to educators (teachers, lecturers, tutors, and trainers)
• Key Informant Interviews with academicians and professionals having expertise in AI, community leaders, and AI policy makers in the 10 AMS.
• Focus group discussion with targeted group (teachers, lecturers, relevant government officials, students, and parents)
• Desk-based review to map the findings and create an analysis from the acquired data. Review will cross-examine reports and analyses on these topics from other relevant research institutions.

LIMITATIONS SCOPE OF WORK (OUTPUTS, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES)

The Lead Researcher Consultant is expected to work in consultation with the ASEAN Foundation team in designing, developing, and implementing this research project. The following key components are envisioned:

1. Inception report – the initial plan by the Consultant consisting of action plan and timeline for conducting the research and mapping of target respondents.
2. Implementation of the research project: the Consultant is expected to manage and oversee the process of data collection by the field researchers with the view to building national capacity in data collection methods, providing technical oversight and ensuring quality control. In carrying out the data collection process, the Consultant will be responsible to manage and oversee the process of data collection by the field researchers with the view to regional data collection methods, providing technical oversight and ensuring quality control. However, prior to the deployment of field researchers, the ASEAN Foundation expects the Consultant to train and standardise the quality of the field researchers to best support the works of the Consultant.
3. Data Analysis and Reporting: the Consultant will produce a research report – covering the initial research result and final result. Initial findings should capture the findings in the 10 AMS covering how the respondents' attitudes and behaviour during the survey, interview and group discussion. The final result should already combine their level of understanding based on the initial research report.
4. Data Validation: The ASEAN Foundation will organise a half-day validation workshop/discussion to obtain feedback on the research findings from relevant stakeholders. We will require the Consultant to draft the agenda, develop the presentation, and present the findings. The Consultant will also support the report compilation on the feedback obtained, which will be used as key inputs for writing the final report.
5. Main Research Report – the main report should include, but not limited to: A) Executive Summary (3 to 5 pages) where it would need to be extractable and be read as a standalone report. It will serve as an effective means of communication and will clearly answer the research questions. B) Introduction (1 to 2 pages) providing details on background, purpose of the research, methodology and limitations. C) Specific Findings and Recommendations – Analysis. This chapter should factor in findings in the 10 AMS (10 pages for each country). In addition, this section will provide in-depth analysis on the research findings. D) Key Success Factors (5 to 10 pages) detailing key factors that will help or hinder the project in the near future. E) Annex. 10% of pages discretion to be noted. The main research report will not exceed 150 pages.
6. Dissemination Workshop: the Consultant will draft the agenda, prepare presentation (which includes but is not limited to preparing the slide presentation, poster, infographic and other collaterals as needed), and facilitate the workshop with the support from the ASEAN Foundation’s team who will assist in capturing feedback on the workshop.

The ASEAN Foundation expects the Consultant to provide an analysis plan and a research outline for the initial findings and main report. The Consultant will report to the ASEAN Foundation. However, the Consultant will also attend to comments and inputs from its partner, Google.org. The ASEAN Foundation and its partner will provide samples of analysis plans and outlines for the Consultant to refer to and be informed of what is expected from both parties. The weekly or biweekly meetings between the ASEAN Foundation and the Consultant may be held to report progress, obstacles, challenges and find particular solutions.

The followings are the specific roles and responsibilities the Consultant must undertake:

• Conducting evidence-based research on the given topic, including to contact, recruit and lead the field researchers for the required evidence-based research.
• Identifying the necessary means to conduct the research and lead the research implementation .
• Presenting the research findings in 1 interim report and1 main research report.
• Disseminating the findings from the said research to key stakeholders of ASEAN Foundation, such as the relevant ASEAN Sectoral bodies and senior officials, and ASEAN Secretariat, the ASEAN Foundation’s Board of Trustees, and other Think Tank/Policy Institutions across the 10 AMS. The research findings will also be disseminated to the local implementing partners to help them use the research findings to tailor the training contents to their target beneficiaries.

REQUIREMENTS OF THE CONSULTANTS

The Consultant must meet the following requirements:

• An eligible research institution or private agency, preferably based in the ASEAN region
• At least 7 years of relevant experience conducting Research/impact assessment/evaluation
• Having experience in doing multi-stakeholder processes
• Having experience in conducting qualitative and quantitative research. Having experience in doing the research across the 10 AMS is preferrable.
• Having exceptional presentation and writing skills
• Having access to educators, students, and government officials from the 10 AMS
• Having experience in conducting research with the reach to underserved communities.
• Is not affiliated with any political parties.

RESEARCH DELIVERABLES AND WORK PLAN

The deliverables of the research are as follow:

The above time frame is subject to adjustments and shall be discussed between the ASEAN Foundation and working partners.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Any eligible organisation/institution keen to apply for this opportunity is required to send the following documents:

1. Organisation/institution profile (please share the team description, composition, leadership and curriculum vitae of all members).
2. A narrative proposal which outlines the organisation's experience in doing research across regions to multiple community groups and proposed work plan to achieve all the set deliverables.
3. A quotation using the above template based on TOR of proposed study.
4. Initial framework and planning: suggested methodology and relevant tool.
5. Sample of successful works in conducting similar research.
6. Copy of the organisation's legal entity.

Any proposal that does not include budget detail and narrative proposal will not be considered. The quotation details should include other related cost of activities and income tax that will be deducted.

The above documents are sent to [email protected]  and CC to [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] by 29 November 2024 by 17.00 (GMT+7) 

QUERIES

Send any inquiries to [email protected] and [email protected]