Pangasinan State University (PSU), through the Office of the Vice President for Local and International Affairs (OVPLIA), formally concluded the 2026 Southeast Asian (SEA) Teacher Project through a meaningful Closing Ceremony held on July 2, marking the culmination of four weeks of academic immersion, cultural exchange and regional collaboration.
The ceremony gathered university officials, faculty mentors, cooperating schools, and the four participating pre-service teachers from Universitas Terbuka of Indonesia to celebrate the successful completion of the Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia, advancing excellence in teacher education while fostering intercultural understanding and global citizenship.
University President ๐๐ฟ. ๐๐น๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ ๐ . ๐๐ฎ๐น๐ฎ๐ said the hosting of the SEA Teacher Project underscores PSU’s continuing efforts to strengthen international academic collaboration and provide meaningful global learning opportunities that prepare future educators to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.
Setting the tone of the activity is an opening message from Vice President ๐๐ฟ. ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐ผ ๐. ๐ฆ๐ฎ๐น๐ฐ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ of LIA who expressed gratitude to the international student teachers for embracing the Filipino culture and educational system with enthusiasm and professionalism. He likewise commended the faculty mentors, cooperating schools and partner institutions whose unwavering support ensured the success of the participants’ teaching practicum and cultural immersion.
โWe are celebrating not just the completion of an internship, but the beginning of a lifelong commitment to excellence in education, global citizenship and humanity,โ VP Salcedo said.
For the part of Universitas Terbuka, ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐ณ. ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ต๐บ๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ฑ๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ฎ๐ป, SS.M.HUM,PhD,Vice Rector for Academics of UT who represented Prof. ๐๐ฟ. ๐๐น๐ถ ๐ ๐๐๐ถ๐ธ๐๐๐ฎ๐ป๐๐ถ, said they are thankful for the shared efforts to improve quality education through the exchange teaching experiences across borders that has furthered institutional relationships.
Throughout their stay at PSU and partner institutions – the Lingayen I Central School and the Pangasinan National High School, the SEA Teacher participants engaged in classroom observations, teaching demonstrations, community immersion activities and cultural experiences that enriched their pedagogical competencies and broadened their appreciation of the diverse educational landscapes within Southeast Asia.
The ceremony also featured heartfelt testimonials and reflection from the international student teachers to wit:
Leni Prism: โIn our short stay, I felt that we have a family here. Continue to inspire usโฆ We crossed borders but more importantly, we crossed hearts.โ
Ahmad Junaidi Muslim: โThis is an invaluable opportunity to learn, teach and grow together. I gained a deeper understanding of different culture plus I enjoyed riding the tricycle and jeepney.โ
Anik Dwiyanti – โWords canโt express my appreciation to you all.. I appreciate the constructive feedback. I will always remember what the cooperating teachers said: We teach not to brag but to make a difference.โ
Nesa Tikasari – This is the best experience I ever had in my life. More than practicing methodology, the program taught me friendship and respect beyond borders.โ
Meanwhile, ๐๐ฟ. ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐น ๐๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป, Principal of Lingayen I Central School thanked PSU for the rare opportunity to have foreigners as practice teachers.
โItโs our first time to welcome foreign teachers. It reminds us how cultural differences still make us united. They are compassionate and they love what theyโre doing. They easily collaborated with our teachers and easily coped with everything we shared with them,โ Dr. De Guzman said
In closing, ๐๐ถ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ฒ ๐๐พ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ผ, who represented Vice president ๐๐ฟ. ๐ช๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ๐ถ ๐๐ฎ๐ท๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ผ of the Academics and Student Services said the program brought two countries for one purpose: to make education more inclusive for the SEA Teachers.
The ceremony also featured a Visiting Lecturer Series and a Memorandum of Understanding signing between PSU and Universities Terbuka. (see separate story)
As the program officially came to a close, participants bid farewell with a renewed commitment to becoming globally competent educators and ambassadors of ASEAN solidarity.
