AsTEN, composed of its Chairperson, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pattamavadi Lehmongkol, Executive Director John Carlo M. Ramos, Technical Assistant Mr. Carl Josef B. Francisco, and the two key officials from Kasetsart University (KU) Faculty of Education joined the delegation, Asst. Prof. Dr. Udomluk Koolsriroj (Associate Dean for International Affairs) and Asst. Prof. Dr. Wandee Kasemsukpipat (Assistant Dean for International Affairs), conducted a courtesy visit with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat held on March 24 and March 27, 2023.
On March 24, 2023, the delegation conducted a dialogue with Dr. Roger Y. Chao, Jr., the Assistant Director of ASEAN Education, Youth and Sports Division (EYSD) along with his staff Mr. Muhammad Dika Harliadi. The main point of discussion was the potential initiatives of AsTEN in collaborating with ASEAN. Dr. Chao emphasized the need to advance the discussions and efforts in teacher education at the regional wherein AsTEN could be a key player in this matter.
During the discussions, Prof. Dr. Fuad Abdul Hamied (ATQA Executive Director) and Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ali (Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia) also introduced the newly-established AsTEN Teacher Education Quality Assurance Agency (ATQA), the efforts of AsTEN in creating the standards for teacher education programs of AsTEN, and its quality assurance mechanism.
On March 27, 2023, the AsTEN delegation and KU team, with Asst. Prof. Dr. Pikun Ekwarangkoon, Vice Dean for Research and Academic Services of Kasetsart University Faculty of Education, visited the SEAMEO Secretariat to pursue a dialogue and consultation. The delegation was welcomed and received by Dr. Ethel Agnes P. Valenzuela (outgoing director), Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim (incoming director), and their team. SEAMEO presented an introduction to their priority areas and ongoing projects in the region. The groups also discussed possible collaboration in the area of teacher education and publication. SEAMEO and AsTEN look forward to collaborating with each other and its member institutions in the future.
The stakeholder consultations and dialogues were part of AsTEN’s strategies in developing its five-year strategic direction.
