Two faculty members from the Teacher Education Department of Davao de Oro State College Main Campus participated in the Southeast Asia (SEA) Teacher Programme Evaluation and Southeast Asia Conference on Pre-Service Teacher Education held on October 20–21, 2026, at Sampaguita Hall, Seda Manila Bay, Parañaque City.

Representing DdOSC were Mike Homecillo, M.Sc., and Leonel Samentar, MEd-ECE, practicum coordinators for the Bachelor of Secondary Education and Bachelor of Elementary Education programs, respectively, who joined teacher education practitioners, institutional representatives, policymakers, and regional partners in discussions on strengthening teacher preparation across Southeast Asia.

Organized by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat, hosted by Philippine Normal University Manila, and co-organized with REX Education and the Teacher Education Council Philippines, the two-day gathering is part of SEAMEO’s 60th anniversary celebration.

The event featured the evaluation of the 11th batch of the SEA-Teacher Programme, focusing on assessing its implementation, identifying areas for improvement, and developing recommendations to strengthen international student teacher exchanges and cross-border practicum experiences.

Anchored on the theme, “Advancing Policy, Research, and Regional Collaboration in Teacher Education,” the conference also provided a platform for discussions on future-ready teacher competencies, practicum and clinical experiences, teacher educator development, digital and AI-enabled teacher preparation, quality assurance, accreditation, and teacher mobility.

Moreover, the gathering sought to translate evaluation findings and institutional experiences into actionable policy directions, research collaborations, and regional initiatives aimed at improving the quality and relevance of pre-service teacher education.

Homecillo, in a message, emphasized the significance of DdOSC’s participation in the international conference as an opportunity to gain insights into emerging practices in teacher preparation, establish new international academic linkages, and even identify potential improvements in the institution’s practicum and field study programs.

“I believe it is important to align our institutional practices with regional developments in teacher education to better prepare DdOSCians for the ever-increasing demands of the teaching profession,” stressed the BSEd practicum coordinator.