The exchange students witness the signing of Memorandum of Agreement of ISAT U partner institutions to formalize their internship.

To fulfill its commitment to the South East Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Polytechnic Network and to continue in the SEA Teachers Exchange Program, the university sent 22 students to different partner institutions in Indonesia and Thailand to undergo internship. In exchange, 21 foreign students were accepted for cross-country training here for the period of August 11-September 10, 2018.

Of the 22 outbound students, 14 were sent as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) internship exchange students to the different colleges and universities in Indonesia. Assigned  to Bogor Agricultural University are 4 ISAT U students; to State Polytechnic of Sriwijaya, 2; to Politeknik Piksi Ganesha Bandung, 2;  to STIKI Malang, 2; and to Politeknik Elektronika Negeri Surabaya, 1. A total of 21 foreign students from the above mentioned schools were admitted for internship at the different partner institutions of ISAT U.

The SEAMEO-Polytechnic Network aims to promote the internationalization of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions and leverage the global competitiveness and 21st century skills of TVET students in Southeast Asian countries. The engagement in cross-country internship placement program and other collaborations aims to enhance internationalization and partnership of TVET institutions.

Dr. Raul F. Muyong welcomes the exchange students under the SEA TVET and SEA Teachers program during their courtesy call.

On the other hand, the university sent eight students to Indonesia and Thailand under the South East Asia (SEA) Teacher Project or the Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia. Assigned to the University Widya Gama Mahakam are 2  students,  to Unibersitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta, 1; and to Lambung Mangkurat, 1, in Indonesia.  Two are assigned to Loei Rajahbat University and  to Chang Mai University, 2, in Thailand.

As counterpart, ISAT U accepted eight students with 6 coming from Indonesia and  two from Thailand.  The Indonesian exchange students come from University of Jember, 2; Tidar University, 2; Universitas PGRI Madiun, 1; State University of Makasar, 1.  Two come from  Chiang Rai University in Thailand  and are assigned at the Laboratory School and Graciano Lopez Jaena Elementary School for their training.

This is the second SEA Teachers exchange since the College of Education obtained its Center of Development status in 2016.

During the welcome program, ISAT U and partner agencies signed an agreement to formalize the internship of the foreign students in their respective agencies.  These are  University of the Philippines in the Visayas, DepEd Division of Iloilo City, Toyota Iloilo, Inc., AMF Metal Industries Corporation, JOSMEF Medical Corporation, ISAT U and Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Codenbrew Inc., Govesmart Solutions, Inc. and Molave Studio.

Aside from their internship schedules, the foreign students were toured to the different scientific, tourist, business, historical and cultural sites in the city and province of Iloilo. They also joined in the street dance parade to celebrate the Charter Anniversary of Iloilo City on August 25.

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