The University of Santo Tomas (UST) College of Education gathered over 460 educators from 86 schools and universities nationwide and nine schools and universities from Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, in its 4th PSALM (Passion for Scholarship and Love for Mission) International Conference for Teacher Education and Formation last May 4, 2024, at the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Auditorium and online through Zoom.
Carrying the theme “Beyond Vision: Embracing Change for Transformative Teacher Education,” the conference underscored best practices for implementing transformative changes in teacher education programs in the Asian region.
The conference was organized in partnership with Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia, the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Faculty of Education, and Saint Louis University.
Dr. Jennie V. Jocson, standing committee member of the Subcommittee on Teacher Education and Development, EDCOM 2 - Second Congressional Commission on Education, delivered her keynote address “Teacher Quality using the EDCOM2 Year I Findings as Lens,” following the opening remarks by UST vice rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH.
Prominent academics here and abroad lectured on the current landscape of transformative teacher education practices from different Asian countries.
Plenary sessions in the morning were led by Dr. Edizon A. Fermin, chair of Technical Panel for Teacher Education, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), with his lecture “Evolving Teachers’ Competencies”; Dr. Joseph M. Velarde, deputy director of Education for All Impact Laboratory, Taylor’s University, Malaysia, talked about “Transformative Education: Perspectives from Malaysia”; and Dr. Kamonwat Phuwuchit, head of international relations of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, Thailand, who presented “Transformative Education: Perspectives from Thailand.”
In the afternoon, Prof. Jacklyn Santiago, from theEducational Psychology Area, College of Education University of the Philippines Diliman, delved into “Evolving Learners’ Characteristics.” At the same time, Dr. Joanne V. Serrano, dean of the Faculty of Management and Development Studies, University of the Philippines Open University, talked about “Microcredentials as the Driver to Addressing Emerging Teacher Competencies.”
Two panel discussions were also set to assess national and international situations.
Selected participants also shared their studies on innovative and effective teacher education through parallel paper presentations and poster exhibits. The conference is part of the 98th Founding Anniversary of the College of Education, with the theme “#EduGREATat98: Gratitude, Resilience and Excellence Amidst Transitions.”