The Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (FKIP-UMSU) is again taking part in the 2023 Student Teacher Exchange in SouthEast Asia (SEA-Teacher Project) program or an exchange program for prospective teachers between countries in the Southeast Asia region.
This activity was marked by the signing of a collaboration between UMSU and various universities in the ASEAN region at the SEA Teacher Summit in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday (21/3). Representing the Rector of UMSU, Prof. Dr. Agussani, M.AP, was present at the activity. Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, FKIP UMSU, Dr. Dewi Kesuma Nasution, M.Hum and UMSU SEA Teacher Coordinator Yayuk Hayulina, M.Pd.
FKIP UMSU has participated in the SEA Teacher program since 2016 by sending each year for teaching practice in schools in various Southeast Asian countries.
Instead, students from other countries come to UMSU every year and are facilitated to teach in Indonesian schools in Medan.
Responding to this international program, UMSU Rector Prof. Dr. Agussani supports the internationalization of FKIP UMSU. This aligns with the university’s roadmap, which leads to internationalization and follows the Ministry of Education and Culture’s MBKM policy. “Congratulations to FKIP. This makes us very proud and supports our university’s roadmap,” he said.
In addition, Vice Dean I FKIP UMSU Dr. Dewi Kesuma Nasution explained that UMSU had a vacuum of sending students abroad because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
This year, through SEA Teacher, students again have the opportunity to study in other countries. “This year, we are again participating in the SEA Teacher program after a hiatus of 2 years due to Covid-19,” he said.
For this reason, UMSU has built agreements with several campuses in Thailand and the Philippines, including Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University and Nakhon Pathom Rajabhat University from Thailand then Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology and Central Luzon State University, Philippines.
The program, which was attended by 77 tertiary institutions from Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines, and Japan, was initiated by the association of the Southeast Asian Ministry of Education or SEAMEO, which provides opportunities for prospective teachers in tertiary institutions to gain study experience in various countries in the Southeast Asian region plus Japan.
