The Philippine Normal University (PNU) has sent a group of ten pre-service teachers to Kasetsart University (KU) in Bangkok, Thailand, as part of its 2025 International Exchange Program. This initiative, which began on January 28, 2025, offers students a unique opportunity to enhance their teaching skills through an international practicum.

The ten students come from the Faculty of Languages and Literature (FLL) and the Faculty of Science, Technology, and Mathematics (FSTeM). Among them, five are from the Bachelor of English Education (BEE) program: Jasmine Rose De Leon, Diane Isabel Visen, Elizabelle De Leon, Jerron Anthony Yogyog, and Julie Ann Lique. The remaining five are enrolled in various science-related programs under FSTeM, specializing in Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics. These students will gain practical teaching experience at Nakornonwittaya School 1 & 5 in Thailand, where they will spend nearly a month—from January 28 to February 21, 2025—immersing themselves in classroom environments and applying the knowledge they have acquired in their studies.

This collaboration between PNU and KU highlights the strong academic ties between the two institutions, which share a commitment to cultivating highly skilled educators. By partnering with KU, PNU provides its students with a valuable opportunity to adapt to diverse educational settings and refine their teaching methods, particularly in an international context. The program also fosters cultural exchange, allowing future teachers to gain insights into different teaching practices, classroom management strategies, and student engagement techniques while contributing to the educational landscape in Thailand.

The presence of Associate Dean Alfons Jayson O. Pelgone of FSTeM further underscores PNU’s commitment to ensuring a well-rounded and well-supported experience for its students. As the pioneer batch of this exchange program, the group will not only gain hands-on experience but also represent PNU’s standards of teacher education abroad.

Through initiatives like this, PNU continues to reinforce its mission of developing globally competitive educators while fostering educational innovation and cross-border collaboration. The success of this exchange program is expected to pave the way for more international partnerships and teaching opportunities for PNU students in the future.