Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) brought six international students from the Philippines, Japan, and Thailand to execute the SEA-Teacher Pilot Project Batch 3 Program from February 6, 2024, to March 5, 2024. This is an exchange program for prospective teachers in Southeast Asia, involving three different universities, Central Luzon State University Philippines, Tsukuba University Japan, and Khon Kaen University Thailand as the teaching practice partners in Laboratory High School of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia.
On February 6, 2024, the delegates from three universities arrived at Soekarno Hatta Airport and were warmly greeted with the opening ceremony as well as campus and school orientation. Many activities including observation, teaching assistance, teaching practice, and excursion to Saung Angklung Udjo and Gracia Hot Spring Water were held from February 12 until March 1, 2024. To end the program, a closing ceremony was held on March 4, 2024 and the participants went to their home countries the next day.
Sasithon Noktong, one of the international students from Thailand said, “It has been a month I stayed here, many people may think that it is a long time, but I feel like time fly very fast; I feel very happy and learn many thing, not just about teaching practice, but also cultures of school system, subject content, and I learn many general things such as people, culture, food, and many more.” Meanwhile, KC Joy Cabical Ancheta, one of the students from Philippines also gave the impression that: “I thought studying education would be average, but because of the SEA-Teacher program I am more than satisfied with choosing a career path as an educator. Thank you for the moments, memories and opportunities you have given us. Thank you for making it possible for me to find happiness in Bandung. For this reason, UPI Indonesia will always have a big place in my heart, because you have now become my second home. Once again, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Looking at the responses of the international students, DIA UPI has a hope to continue this program for it benefits UPI’s students opportunities to explore culture and to understand teaching systems in various countries.