Korea and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are advancing the use of Artificial Intelligence in education across Latin America, supporting digital skills, teacher capacity, and AI-based learning tools inspired by Korea’s successful experience.
Across Latin America and the Caribbean, Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant idea—it’s becoming part of the classroom. Teachers are exploring new tools, students are learning through adaptive technologies, and ministries are rethinking how schools prepare young people for the world ahead. That is where collaboration between Korea and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is changing the equation.
The collaboration between Korea Education and Research Information Service (KERIS) and the IDB is paving the way for a more innovative, inclusive, and technology-driven education landscape across Latin America and the Caribbean. By combining Korea’s leadership in digital education with IDB’s commitment to fostering equitable learning opportunities, this partnership is setting a new standard for how education can evolve in the 21st century.
Since its creation in 1999, KERIS has been at the forefront of Korea’s digital education revolution—designing national strategies, developing digital platforms, and empowering teachers and learners. Its mission, Digital Education for All, resonates strongly with the IDB’s Digital Transformation in Education (DTE) agenda, which emphasizes equitable access, 21st-century skills, and socio-emotional development.
The IDB–KERIS collaboration began formally in 2010 with the signing of the first Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Since then, both institutions have worked to translate Korea’s successful experiences into insights for public education systems in LAC.
A notable example is the joint work on the IDB-led 21st Century Skills initiative, where KERIS contributed its Digital Literacy Assessment framework to the IDB’s online platform, CLIC. This platform allows students to assess their digital and socio-emotional skills and to build digital portfolios to improve their employability. So far, over 4,000 students in Paraguay and 45,000 young people in Colombia have benefitted from these tools, demonstrating the tangible impact of this collaborative effort.
EdTech that connects people, learning, and technology.
To fulfill its mission of creating digitally inclusive education for all, KERIS is actively integrating AI across the public education system. A prime example is TocToc! Math Expedition, Korea’s first AI-powered courseware introduced in the public education system to support elementary mathematics. The name 'TocToc' holds a dual meaning in Korean: it represents the sound of knocking ('knock knock') and also means 'smart.' True to its name, the platform uses game-based content and AI to encourage students to actively 'knock' on the door of learning and unlock academic success.
Additionally, the recently launched Korean for All platform integrates AI tutors to provide personalized language learning support. To strengthen foundational literacy, the platform diagnoses speech and handwriting proficiency while simultaneously analyzing the learner’s study history and search queries. These tools are examples of how AI algorithms are leveraged to diagnose proficiency and provide adaptive feedback—hallmarks of a learner-centered approach.
Beyond student-facing platforms, KERIS has recently developed an AI competency framework and self-assessment tool for teachers, in collaboration with IDB and Uruguay's Plan Ceibal. Covering core areas such as AI foundations, ethics, instructional design, and professional development, these resources aim to build sustained, rather than one-off, AI competencies among educators. The assessment was piloted with over 2,000 Uruguayan teachers, highlighting that effective integration of AI in education requires ongoing, embedded professional development.
Since 2006, the EDU–Korea collaboration has mobilized nearly US$15.4 million through the Korea Trust Fund, supporting over 30 technical cooperation projects. KERIS has been instrumental in guiding this digital transformation effort, helping education systems adopt innovative practices and technologies. Looking ahead, the partnership will focus on three strategic pillars:
- Empowering teachers and students for AI and digital transformation
- Validating and scaling AI-driven learning innovations
- Strengthening data governance and system infrastructure
As Korea flags AI as a top policy priority and IDB advances its DTE strategy in the education sector, the KERIS–IDB alliance stands as a powerful model of global cooperation. Together, they are not only transforming classrooms—they are helping shape the future of education throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. And when a region learns together, it doesn’t just adopt technology. It transforms education.
How did Korea become a global education leader? In this blog we share some insights and learn more about this partnership.