A. Background

Since its inception as an Affiliate Member of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) in 2009, the University of Tsukuba (UT) of Japan has been one of the most active Affiliate Members of SEAMEO. Through collaboration with the Center for Research on International Cooperation in Educational Development (CRICED) and Faculty of Education of UT, various teacher development programmes have been developed, particularly in Science, Mathematics, and Teacher Education, along with professional and student exchange programmes that have benefited teachers and students in Southeast Asia and beyond.    

Over a period of ten years, the SEAMEO-UT Symposium has been organised annually with themes according to the needs of and emerging issues in teacher education between Japan and Southeast Asia. The 11th SEAMEO-UT Symposium, themed “Technology and Values-driven Transformation in Education”, was supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) Japan and successfully conducted on 20-22 February 2023 virtually. Over 19,800 educators participated through the SEAMEO Secretariat YouTube live. The overall viewership of the recorded videos over three days has so far reached approximately 45,000.

In response to the rapidly growing presence of generative AI in education, the SEAMEO Secretariat in collaboration with UT and supported by MEXT Japan will organise the 12th SEAMEO - University of Tsukuba Symposium on 27-28 February 2024.

The 12th Symposium will address the needs of Japan and the Southeast Asian region via the timely theme of “Challenges and Ways Forward in the Era of Generative AI with Reflection on 25 Years of 21st Century Education.”

The 12th Symposium will be organised in hybrid mode, whereby some participants will be participating face-to-face at the UT campus in Japan, and others participate online through the SEAMEO Secretariat Youtube live stream.

 

Programme-At-A-Glance

Time (GMT+9 Tsukuba, Japan)

27 Feb 2024

28 Feb 2024

AM
  • Opening Ceremony
  • Monitoring of AI’s Impacts on Education
  • Developing a Repository of AI Resources for Education
  • Teacher Competencies and Standards in the age of AI
  • Breakout One: Ensuring Effectiveness in Addressing School-level Challenges in the Age of AI

PM
  • Adapting the Curriculum to the 21st Century
  • Adapting Assessments to the 21st Century
  • School Guidelines and Ethical Standards for the use of AI
  • Mainstreaming and Sustaining the Concept of ESD
  • Breakout Two: Enhancing Educators’ Capacity Development with AI; SEA-Teacher Session
  • Breakout Three: Infusing and Sustaining ESD within Educators; SEA-Teacher Session
  • Closing

 

B. Theme Description and Objectives

“Challenges and Ways Forward in the Era of Generative AI with Reflection on 25 Years of 21st Century Education”

The symposium seeks to provide a comprehensive platform for in-depth discussions on navigating the evolving landscape of education influenced by generative AI tools. While previous dialogues have emphasised the imperative for the usual suspects, such as ethical guidelines and upskilling of educators, this symposium aims to scrutinize the practical challenges associated with implementing these measures. By concentrating on both the national policy framework and the microcosm of individual schools, we aim to foster nuanced conversations on effective adaptation strategies. Participants will explore the complexities of integrating 21st century teaching and learning, including generative AI tools, into educational practices, addressing issues of accessibility, resource allocation, and the ethical considerations unique to educational settings. Ultimately, the symposium serves as a catalyst for generating actionable insights that can shape a responsive and sustainable approach to education in the era of generative AI.

The objectives of the Symposium are to: 

  1. Provide a platform to discuss practical challenges of and solutions to the presence of 21st century education, including the presence of generative AI in education;   
  2. Consolidate the recommendations, best practices, and ways forward.

 

C. Participants

The symposium is open to university Presidents/Vice Presidents, Deans, Heads of Departments, Lecturers/Teachers, Researchers, Educators, and Ministry Officials from Southeast Asian countries, Japan, and beyond. 

 

D. Registration

The symposium is free of charge. However, pre-registration is required for all participants by26 February 2024.

Link and QR Code for Registration
https://link.seameo.org/12SEAMEO-UT/RegisParticipants 

 

E. Expected Outputs
  • Consolidated presentations of speakers for the SEAMEO-UT Journal of Southeast Asian Education.
  • A summary report of the symposium. 
  • SEAMEO-UT Journal 2024

 

F. Full Paper Submission (Optional for Speakers)

The SEAMEO Secretariat and the University of Tsukuba plan to publish the paper presented at the Symposium in the Journal of Southeast Asian Education Issue 2024 Volume 1 which will be published by October 2024.

The speakers can submit the full paper of their presentation before 15 April 2024.  For additional information on the full paper template, please contact Ms Chanika, SEAMEO Secretariat at her email: chanika@seameo.org.

 

G. Certificate

The e-Certificate will be provided and generated by the SEAMEO Secretariat as follows:

  • “Certificate of Appreciation” will be provided to the Speakers.
  • “Certificate of Participation” will be provided to all participants who attend the Symposium and complete the Certificate Validation and Assessment Form at the end of each day.

 

H. Tentative Programme

One link for joining all live sessions of the 12th SEAMEO-UT Symposium

https://link.seameo.org/12SEAMEO-UT/Live

 

Tuesday, 27 February 2024

Opening Ceremony
MC:
Mr Garry Pawitandra Poluan
Learning Innovation and Information Specialist, SEAMEO Secretariat
  • Welcome Remarks by
    Dr Jun Ikeda
    Vice President for Global Affairs
    University of Tsukuba 
  • Remarks by
    Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim
    Director
    SEAMEO Secretariat
    Thailand
  • Remarks by
    Mr Koji Kitayama
    Deputy Assistant Minister / Director International Affairs Division
    Minister’s Secretariat
    Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Japan
Session 1: Monitoring of AI’s Impacts on Education
Moderator:
Mr Garry Pawitandra Poluan
Learning Innovation and Information Specialist, SEAMEO Secretariat
Session 2: Developing a Repository of AI Resources for Education
Moderator:
Dr Kritsachai Somsaman
Centre Director, SEAMEO STEM-ED
Session 3 (Open Discussion): Adapting the Curriculum to the 21st Century
Moderator:
Mr John Arnold Siena
Deputy Director for Programme and Development, SEAMEO Secretariat
  • Prof Masami Isoda
    Director of CRICED
    University of Tsukuba
    Japan
Session 4: Adapting Assessments to the 21st Century
Moderator:
Dr Kamaleswaran Jayarajah
Research, Evaluation, and Assessment Specialist, SEAMEO Secretariat

Abstract
  • Dr Paryono
    Deputy Director for Professional Affairs and Research Manager
    SEAMEO VOCTECH (online)
  • Dr Sayed Yusoff Bin Sayed Hussain
    Acting Centre Director
    SEAMEO RECSAM
Session 5: School Guidelines and Ethical Standards for the Use of AI
Moderator:
Mr Garry Pawitandra Poluan
Learning Innovation and Information Specialist, SEAMEO Secretariat
  • Dr Sherlyne Acosta
    Senior Education Specialist
    SEAMEO INNOTECH

 

 

Wednesday, 28 February 2024

Recap of Day 1
by Mr John Arnold Siena, Deputy Director for Programme and Development, SEAMEO Secretariat
Session 6: Teacher Competencies and Standards in the Age of AI
Moderator:
Dr Takahiro Morio
Bureau of Global Initiatives, University of Tsukuba

Abstract
  • Dr Yu Lu
    Director of Artificial Intelligence Lab
    Beijing Normal University (online)
Introduction to Breakout One Session
Breakout One: Ensuring National Effectiveness in Addressing School-level Challenges in the 21st Century

  • Group A:
    Adapting the Learning Environment to Ensure the Prioritization of Higher Order Thinking Skills
    Facilitator: Ms Shizuko Umetsu, Assistant Professor, University of Tsukuba

  • Group B:
    Assisting Educators in Accessing the Most Effective Tools for 21st Century Education
    Facilitator: Mr Frankie Randle, Connected Higher Education Specialist, UNHCR

  • Group C:
    Maximizing Creativity among Learners and Teachers in the 21st Century
    Facilitator: Mr Kol Pheng Vaddhana, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Cambodia

  • Group D:
    Online participants: Understanding Resistance to Change in Education
    Facilitator: Dr Kamaleswaran Jayarajah, Research, Evaluation, and Assessment Specialist, SEAMEO Secretariat
Session 7: Mainstreaming and Sustaining the Concept of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
Moderator:
Mr John Arnold Siena
Deputy Director for Programme and Development, SEAMEO Secretariat
  • Mr Toshiaki Mizuno
    Director, Office for International Cooperation Planning, International Affairs Division, Minister’s Secretariat, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Japan.

Abstract
  • Ms Duriya Amatavivat
    Centre Director, SEAMEO SEPS;
    Advisor for International Cooperation,
    Ministry of Education, Thailand (online)
  • Mr Purnomosidi, S Pd, M Si
    School Principal, Al-Ya’Lu Superior Elementary School; 1st place winner of SEAMEO-Japan ESD Awardee Category I: Schools with more than 250 students (online)
Introduction to Breakout Two Session / SEA-Teacher Session
Breakout Two: Enhancing Educators’ Capacity Development with AI Lessons learned from the SEA-Teacher programme with special focus on the pilot case in Japan (Part1)
On-site, and interested online participants

Facilitator:
Ms Nao Ishihara
CRICED Secretary-officer, Bureau of Global Initiatives, University of Tsukuba
  • Group A:
    SEAMEO’s education cluster and on-site participants
  • Prof MASAMI Isoda
    Director of CRICED
    University of Tsukuba
    Japan
  • Group B:
    SEAMEO’s science and culture clusters and on-site participants
  • Dr Nakao Nomura
    Regional Director for Southeast Asia and Taiwan, Bureau of Global Initiatives, University of Tsukuba
  • Group C:
    Online participants
    Facilitator:
    Dr Kamaleswaran Jayarajah
    Research, Evaluation, and Assessment Specialist, SEAMEO Secretariat

Join the session (Webex)
https://link.seameo.org/12seameo-ut/webex
Meeting number: 2512 697 5834
Password: 20240228
  • Dr Yoshikazu Tatemoto
    University of Tsukuba Affiliated Senior High School at Sakado
  • Mr Kenichi Yoshida
    University of Tsukuba Affiliated Senior High School at Sakado

  • Dr Regidor Gaboy
    Central Luzon State University, Philippines
Breakout Three: Infusing and Sustaining ESD within Educators Lessons learned from the SEA-Teacher program with special focus on the pilot case in Japan (Part2)
On-site, and interested online participants

Facilitator:
Ms Nao Ishihara
CRICED Secretary-officer, Bureau of Global Initiatives, University of Tsukuba

  • Group A:
    SEAMEO’s education cluster and on-site participants
  1. Panel session among the inbound students to Japan
  2. Panel session among the outbound students from Japan
  3. QA session

 

  • Group B:
    SEAMEO’s science and culture centres and on-site participants

Commentators:
Prof MASAMI Isoda
Director of CRICED
University of Tsukuba
Japan

  • Group C:
    Online participants
    Facilitator:
    Mr Garry Pawitandra Poluan
    Learning Innovation and Information Specialist, SEAMEO Secretariat

Join the session (Webex)
https://link.seameo.org/12seameo-ut/webex
Meeting number: 2512 697 5834
Password: 20240228		 Commentators:
Dr Nakao Nomura
Regional Director for Southeast Asia and Taiwan, Bureau of Global Initiatives, University of Tsukuba
Closing Session
  • Ways Forward and Closing Message by
    Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim
    Director
    SEAMEO Secretariat
    Thailand
  • Closing Message by
    Prof MASAMI Isoda
    Director of CRICED
    University of Tsukuba
    Japan

I. More Information

12th SEAMEO-University of Tsukuba Symposium (2024)

 

J. Focal Persons
  • Co-managed by SEAMEO Secretariat and CRICED, University of Tsukuba, Japan
    • SEAMEO Secretariat, Bangkok, Thailand:
      Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director
    • CRICED, University of Tsukuba, Japan
      Prof Dr Masami Isoda, Director, CRICED
  • Coordinators  

 

K. Contact
  • For more information, please contact:
    • SEAMEO Secretariat, Bangkok, Thailand.
      Mr. Garry Pawitandra Poluan, Learning Innovation and Information Specialist (garry@seameo.org).