UST College of Education conducts 3rd PSALM International Conference for Teacher Education and Formation in hybrid modality

By Jewell Wayne Anglo

To improve international linkages related to teacher education and formation beyond the pandemic, the UST College of Education, in partnership with Atma Jaya Catholic University, Indonesia and the Philippine Association for Teachers and Educators NCR, conducts the 3rd Passion for Scholarship and Love for Mission (PSALM) International Conference for Teacher Education and Formation on May 13, 2023, at the UST Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati Building in hybrid modality

With the theme “Foresighting and Reimagining the Futures of Teacher Education in Asia and Beyond”, this year’s conference aims to look for ways on how to progress the education and training of future educators after the pandemic. “The first two PSALM conferences talk about the pandemic, teaching during the pandemic. But now that we are gradually moving to what we call the ‘new normal’, how do we now envision it, and more importantly, teacher education and training.” Asst. Prof. Louie B. Dasas, LPT, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of the UST College of Education said in an interview.

The international conference was composed of various events, from a series of lectures, panel and roundtable fora, and poster exhibits from various teacher education institutions. The events are held in hybrid modality, with the events conducted both onsite and broadcasted online through Zoom.

The lecture series features speakers from across Asia. The speakers include keynote speaker Dr. Gina O. Gonong, the Undersecretary for Curriculum and Teaching, Department of Education, Philippines; Dr. Hsiu-Lan Shelley Tien, the Dean of College of Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan; Dr. Grace Thanatporn, the Head of Mathematics (English Program) of the Faculty of Education, Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University under the Royal Patronage, Thailand; Dr. Kamonwat Phuwichit, the Dean of Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kamphaeng Phet Rajabhat University, Thailand; Dr. Yen Leng Stefanie Chye, the Asst. Dean of the Teacher Lead- ership and Professional Inquiry, Office of Teacher Education, National Institute of Education, Singapore; and Dr. Luciana, M.Ed., the Dean of the College of Education, Atma Jaya Catholic University, Indonesia.

Lecture topics from the keynote and plenary speakers include “The Future of Teacher Education in the Philippines” presented by Dr. Gonong, “COVID-19 and Teacher Education: The Case of Taiwan” by Dr. Tien, “COVID-19 and Teacher Education: The Case of Thailand” by Dr. Thanatporn and Dr. Phuwichit, “Reimagining Teacher Education in the Post-Covid Era: Perspectives from Singapore” by Dr. Chye, and “Being Relevant and Impactful: A Reflection of the Indonesian Teacher Professional Program” by Dr. Lucienda.

Roundtable and panel discussions are carried out between lectures, which featured talks about teacher education and training from various scholars and students as speakers. Alongside this, the poster exhibit viewing opens to the onsite attendees of the conference. It presents the research outputs of students, scholars, and teaching staff from various institutions from across Asia.

This year’s PSALM International Conference is conducted in connection with the celebration of the 97th Founding Anniversary of the UST College of Education. The annual conference, first launched by the Dean of the UST College of Education, Assoc. Prof. Pilar I. Romero, LPT, PhD in 2021, is the College’s response to the “continuing call for scholarship” and the mission to relay values and knowledge to transform future educators.