COED hosts exchange students under SEA-Teacher Project

The NEUST College of Education (COED) welcomed four (4) exchange students as part of the Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia (SEA-Teacher) Project during an opening ceremony held at the Mini Convention Center, NEUST Sumacab Campus, on January 23, 2025.

Dr. Jo Neil Peria, COED Dean, encouraged the Indonesian student teachers to embrace cultural exchange while developing their global teaching competencies.

“As future educators, your participation in this program symbolizes your commitment to becoming globally competent and culturally responsive teachers. Share the richness of your culture with us and take with you the values and knowledge you will gain here in NEUST,” said Dr. Peria.

According to Atty. Eric G. Claudio, Director, Office of International Affairs (OIA), the SEA-Teacher Project offers a unique opportunity to experience different cultures and build lasting connections, saying: “Student participants must communicate clearly and collaboratively with their peers, mentors, and local communities.” 

The four (4) SEA-Teacher participants from Universitas Tunas Pembangunan (UTP), Indonesia, will stay in the Philippines from January 22 to February 18, 2025, to engage in the teaching internship program of the College under the mentorship of Dr. Jeniffer Amaranto, Dr. Christopher Francisco, Jeff Amaranto, and Percival Donato.

The UTP students, including Arindhani Pinasti Rahayu, Kayla Annisa Asmara, Nasya Ayu Widyawati, and Restituta Amelia Respatiningrum will be deployed at San Josef National High School (SJNHS) and San Josef Elementary School (SJES) as part of a partnership with NEUST COED and UTP.

“Our goal is to expand our knowledge, gain a deeper understanding of different cultures, share our expertise, and learn extensively about teaching in the Philippines. We hope to collaborate effectively and give our best to everyone,” said Asmara.

The SEA-Teacher Project aims to provide valuable teaching experiences for pre-service student teachers from Southeast Asian universities and to foster collaboration, cultural exchange, and professional development among participants.

The opening ceremony was attended by Dr. Mary Jane L. Tomas, Chairperson of the BSED/BPED Programs; Dr. Andrea Adigue, Chairperson of the BTLED/BSIE Programs; Dr. Donna D. De Guzman, Chairperson of the BEED/BSNED Programs; Dr. Analiza B. Tanghal, Focal Person of COED Internationalization Linkages; and representatives from cooperating schools, Ferdinand Jose (SJNHS) and Juditha Delos Santos (SJES).

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