Expanding its international academic partnerships, the University of Northern Philippines deployed two College of Teacher Education (CTE) faculty members as Visiting Lecturers at partner universities in Indonesia on November 2–4, 2026, under the SEAMEO SEA-Teacher Project.
The academic engagement featured two specialized lectures that highlighted the faculty members’ expertise and brought Philippine educational perspectives and cultural heritage to Indonesian academic communities. On November 2, Dr. Rainalda Rambuyon delivered a public lecture on Educational Management to Master of Arts in Education (MAEd) students at the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education of Mulawarman University in Samarinda, sharing insights on educational leadership, institutional administration, and management practices.
Dr. Rambuyon’s academic engagement provided MAEd students with valuable opportunities to deepen their understanding of Educational Management while exchanging perspectives on educational practices and institutional experiences. Beyond the classroom lecture, she also met with faculty members of Mulawarman University to explore potential joint academic undertakings and collaborative activities that would promote cross-cultural learning and knowledge sharing.
Welcoming the engagement, Prof. Dr. H. Susilo, Dean of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, recognized its significance in further strengthening the academic partnership between Mulawarman University and the University of Northern Philippines, particularly in advancing faculty collaboration and expanding opportunities for international academic exchange.
Continuing the exchange on November 3, Dr. Matilde Concordia presented her research on traditional Ilocano recreational games to students and faculty members of the College of Sports Science at Universitas Negeri Malang. Her presentation introduced indigenous Filipino games as valuable expressions of cultural identity and community heritage, while highlighting their relevance to sports education, cultural preservation, and the promotion of traditional physical activities.
In her lecture, titled “Beyond Play: Traditional Ilocano Recreational Games as a Pathway to Cultural Preservation and Culturally Responsive Physical Education,” Dr. Concordia showcased five traditional Ilocano games—Bulolots, Tangga, Tatsing, Kuryando, and Paway—as important cultural practices that promote physical development, psychological well-being, and social interaction. She discussed their potential integration into Physical Education curricula, emphasizing how indigenous games can enrich learning while preserving local identity and heritage.
She also introduced the AY-AYAM TI ILI Toolkit and Project LARO as complementary initiatives designed to document, teach, and sustain traditional recreational games through active community involvement, ensuring that these cultural practices remain accessible and relevant to future generations.
Beyond their roles as Visiting Lecturers, Dr. Concordia and Dr. Rambuyon also provided academic guidance and supervision to 11 CTE students from various academic programs undertaking an international teaching internship in Indonesia from November 2 to 29, 2026. Their involvement ensured continued faculty support for the students as they gained firsthand teaching experience and immersed themselves in a different educational and cultural environment.
These international engagements opened avenues for knowledge exchange, professional development, and deeper institutional collaboration, reinforcing UNP-CTE’s commitment to advance teacher education through international exposure, cross-cultural learning, and strengthened global academic partnerships.
Article by Anastacia Joven.
