12 Undana Students Prepared for Teaching Practice in the Philippines

Kupang (ANTARA) - Nusa Cendana University (Undana) in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Province, is preparing 12 of its best students to undertake international teaching practice in the Philippines through the Southeast Asian Teacher Project (SEA-Teacher) programme in 2026.

Head of the International Relations Office (IRO) at Undana Kupang, Santri EP Djahimo, said on Monday that the 12 students had undergone a selection process and preparatory training before being dispatched to three partner universities in the Philippines.

“They will be placed at Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), Saint Louis College (SLC), and Panpacific University according to the programme schedule throughout 2026,” he said.

He explained that the 12 students would be divided among three universities: four students are scheduled to undertake teaching practice and cultural exchange at DMMMSU in March 2026, another four at Saint Louis College during the same period, and four at Panpacific University in July 2026.

He explained that the programme is part of the university’s internationalisation strategy and efforts to enhance the competence of prospective educators by providing them with cross-cultural experience.

In preparation, the IRO at Undana has been conducting intensive training since 12 February, covering micro-teaching practice and learning strategies.

Pedagogical material was delivered by Dewi Bili Bora, whilst content on ethics, cultural adaptation, and gender and child protection was presented by Dr Juliana S Ndolu.

Santri said the students are not only carrying the name of their institution but also the identity of East Nusa Tenggara at the Southeast Asian level.

“They are representatives of Undana and NTT in international classrooms. This is part of our commitment to producing globally competitive graduates,” he said.

The SEA-Teacher programme operates under the auspices of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO), which aims to improve the quality of education through inter-country collaboration in Southeast Asia.

Through the programme, Undana hopes its students will gain professional experience and international networks that can strengthen the quality of education graduates in the region.