Indonesian Students Completed the Student Exchange Program

The inception of the Student Exchange Program between the Universitas Negeri Malang (UNM) of Indonesia and the Ateneo de Naga University began as early as December of 2007 through Dr. Suisana Kweldju, Director of the Office of International Affairs of (UNM), and Dr. Arnulfo Aaron R. Reganit, Dean of the College of Education.

Dr. Kweldju came to know the Ateneo through the teacher of her daughter in the International School who also happened to be an alumna of the College of Education . The former was so impressed with the dedication, passion and competence of our alumna that she convinced her University Rector to venture into exchange program.

On 8 March 2008, officials of the Universitas Negeri Malang, headed by its President, came to Naga for the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement for the purpose of operating a sandwich graduate program for 20 Indonesian public elementary school teachers.

The 20 Indonesian teachers eagerly came last 14 November 2008 to conduct classroom observations, case studies, classroom research, and internship in one public school and one private elementary school in Naga City.

To achieve the objective of the Program, the College of Education entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with DepEd Naga, Naga Parochial School and St. Joseph School for a collaborative support system to the internship of the Student Exchange Program.

During their internship they were guided by four academic supervisors, namely Dr. Ronald SP.

Elicay, Miss Cresencia C. Laguerta, Dr. Renato L. Gavino, and Miss Meriam Z. Tandog, and helped them in individual conferences for their case studies and action research. Dr. Arnulfo Aaron R. Reganit was designated by Fr. Joel E. Tabora as the Program Director.

To make their stay more productive, the College of Education designed seminar-workshops and invited them both in the undergraduate and graduate classes.

In conclusion, the Indonesians were very grateful to the Ateneo for taking good care of them and for giving them rich learning opportunities which they could possibly adopt when they return to their respective schools.

Send-off parties by the cooperating schools and by the College of Education were held prior to their departure. On 14 March 2009, the delegates bid goodbye to the university and city they had learned to love.