SEAMEO Launches Three Virtual Academic and Cultural Mobility Programmes in 2021

8 July 2021 - Over 110 educational institutions expressed interests to participate in the SEAMEO Virtual Academic and Cultural Mobility Programmes in 2021 at the “SEAMEO Partner Schools, Colleges, and Universities Summit 2021 (Revisit)” broadcasted by the SEAMEO Secretariat YouTube channel with over 2,000 views from educational institutions in Southeast Asian countries.

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Welcome message from Dr Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela Director of SEAMEO Secretariat		Keynote speaker by Dr Libing Wang, Chief, Section for Educational Innovation and Skills Development (EISD), UNESCO, Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education

The SEAMEO Partner Schools, Colleges and Universities Summit 2021 was virtually held on 29 June 2021 and was replayed on the SEAMEO Secretariat Youtube Channel on 8 July 2021. The Summit served as a platform to promote regional dialogue about best practices; to recognise possible virtual mobility; and to promote innovation and educational engagement on a regional scale. Furthermore, the forum will allowed participants to investigate the possibilities of performing virtual mobility with partners and to obtain a broader regional and global perspective on higher education and TVET.

The programme started with highlighted presentation from the keynote speaker Dr Libing Wang, Chief, Section for Educational Innovation and Skills Development (EISD), UNESCO, Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education on the topic ‘International Virtual Mobility and Recognition in Asia and the Pacific’. Other distinguished speakers from SEAMEO RIHED (Thailand), Pearson Education South Asia (Singapore), Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), Thakhantho Wittayakarn School (Thailand), Mariano Marcos State University (Philippines), Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (Philippines), Politeknik Melaka (Malaysia), and University Muria Kudus (Indonesia) were invited to share their institutions’ experiences.

At the end of the Session, three new SEAMEO Virtual Academic and Cultural Mobility Programmes were  introduced by Dr Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela, Director of SEAMEO Secretariat. According to the online registration, 114 institutions in Southeast Asian countries expressed their interest to join the following three SEAMEO mobility programmes. (Each institution can register more than one programme).  

1. SEAMEO Educators Exchange & Development (SEED), starting September 2021:
   Registered by 107 educational institutions
2. SEAMEO TVET Exchange Programme (STEP), starting October 2021:
   Registered by 77 TVET institutions
3. SEAMEO Smart Camp Programme (SCP), starting November 2021:
   Registered by 67 Schools

One of the programmes highlights was presentations from four group discussions on challenges and practical mechanisms for conducting a virtual mobility programme, which were addressed by the group representatives.  

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Presentation from Group Discussion 1: K-12 Exchange by Dr Wahyudi, Deputy Director for Programme and Development, SEAMEO Secretariat		Presentation from Group Discussion 2: Research and Higher Education Exchange by Prof Jeanette Dials, Chief of Education Mobility, Mariano Marcos State University, Philippines

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Presentation from Group Discussion 3: Polytechnics/ SEA-TVET Exchange by Dr Rhodora R Jugo, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, Philippines		Presentation from Group Discussion 4: Higher Education/ SEA-Teacher Exchange Group by Mr Mutohhar, Head of International Office, Universitas Muria Kudus, Indonesia

During the summit (Revisit), the youtube participants used virtual polls to share their thoughts and experiences about conducting a virtual mobility programme.  According to the polls, the big challenges from the participants’ view were internet connection, motivation of students, and time management constraints. The recommended practical mechanisms from the participants’ view were such as partnership establishment, online communication, internet connection, suitable Learning Management System, and mentoring and motivation. 

To view the summit on Youtube: https://link.seameo.org/webinar/20210708 
Full information: https://www.seameo.org/Main_programme/270