Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan Chairs the 19th Meeting of Presidents of the Association of Southeast Asian Teacher Education Network (AsTEN) in Brunei Darussalam

Brunei, Darussalam — On June 16–17, the 19th Meeting of Presidents and the 7th International Conference of the Southeast Asian Teacher Education Network (AsTEN) took place at Kolej Universiti Perguruan Ugama Seri Begawan. Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM), attended the event and chaired key discussion sessions as the AsTEN Chairperson.

The 19th Meeting of Presidents and the 7th International Conference of the Southeast Asian Teacher Education Network (AsTEN) took place at Brunei, Darussalam

The 19th Meeting of Presidents served as a vital platform for member universities to review collaborative efforts in the first half of 2025 and outline strategic directions through 2030. Held concurrently, the 7th AsTEN Conference enriched the academic discourse among institutions across the region.

Building on the outcomes of the 18th Meeting of Presidents hosted by USSH, VNUHCM in Ho Chi Minh City in December 2024 — marking AsTEN’s 10th anniversary — this year’s event focused on deepening collaborative frameworks. Discussions emphasized joint research initiatives, mutual recognition of teacher education quality standards, and aligning educational goals with local development needs. A key highlight was the review of progress on AsTEN’s five strategic priorities, covering training, research, internationalization, and community engagement. 

The mid-year report presented successful initiatives such as an international workshop in Myanmar on applying research in curriculum reform, a bilateral seminar on sustainable education between Kasetsart University (Thailand) and the Philippine Normal University, and the launch of the AsTEN Journal of Teacher Education, which aims to disseminate research and foster regional knowledge exchange.

In her role as AsTEN Chair, Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan facilitated in-depth discussions,  providing strategic guidance on key priorities for the upcoming period. Notably, the meeting gathered a range of insightful and dedicated contributions aimed at deepening existing collaborative programs and expanding new initiatives. Prominent proposals included a comprehensive review of research collaboration projects funded by Kasetsart University (Thailand); joint organization of academic exchange activities and scientific forums, as well as efforts to promote the development and recognition of the AsTEN quality assurance standards for teacher education. These standards are expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing teacher training quality and aligning educational programs with regional needs.

The delegation took a commemorative photo at the Conference

According to the plan, the 20th AsTEN Meeting of Presidents and International Conference themed “Reimagining Teacher Education: Equity, Innovation, and Sustainability” will be hosted by Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia in Bandung this October. The upcoming event is expected to serve as another key milestone in shaping a deeply integrated framework for teacher education collaboration among member institutions and highlight the strategic leadership of the USSH, VNUHCM, in the Southeast Asian educational ecosystem.

Photos of the event:  

DELEGATIONS

Translation by KHÁNH LINH