Dr. Ester B. Ogena: Shaping collaborative futures for ASEAN teacher education

After the declaration of ASEAN 2020, by the participating countries in the late '90s at Kuala Lumpur, many professional groups have started their initiatives toward closer collaboration in the region. As I came into Philippine Normal University as President in 2011, I did consultations with the country's Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on the possibility of initiating a network among the top teacher education universities in ASEAN to ensure that the concern for developing future teachers and their professional development which have direct impact on the youth in ASEAN will be among the common space for discussion on education improvement and collaboration.

In 2014, the Association of Southeast Asian Teacher Education Network was (ASTEN) was born. We were happy that finally what we planned for in 2013 was realized. After identifying the top teacher education universities in ASEAN region with programs on nurturing future teachers and on professional development/advanced degree programs in this sector, we deemed it necessary to organize in September 2014 both the ASEAN conference on teacher education and the first meeting to sign an agreement with the invited universities as founding members of ASTEN. These two major activities were initiated and provided strong support by the Philippine government through the country's participation fund for ASEAN.

Among the objectives agreed in forming AsTEN are: (a) Provide a venue for discussion and exchange on relevant issues and problems affecting Teacher Education as well as explorations of strategic actions and policy recommendations in the current education reforms in the ASEAN region; (b) Promote information/knowledge dissemination and exchange through cross national and international collaborative study and research among teacher education institutions; (c) Develop broader understanding of the history, culture, values and traditions of the ASEAN countries, as expressed through their teacher education and basic education programs and practices; (c) Promote cooperation and solidarity among teacher educators and teacher education institutions in the ASEAN though efforts such as harmonized curriculum, quality assurance standards and cross border agreements; (d) Develop the professional human resources of teacher education in the ASEAN Region including explorations of innovations and sharing of best practices in teacher education; and (e) Promote opportunities for faculty and student exchange and/or visits.

To date, many activities have been implemented by AsTEN member institutions. I am glad that AsTEN has been officially recognized as an Entity Associated with ASEAN. Such recognition provides continuing challenges and opportunities to AsTEN in performing its role on teacher education development in ASEAN.

Congratulations to ASTEN on its 10th Anniversary! The need to embrace, plan, and act towards the imperatives for collaboration in teacher education cannot be overemphasized.
Go, ASTEN, go!