On July 22, 2025, Samar State University (SSU), Philippines, held a solemn welcoming ceremony for graduate students in Theory and Methodology of English Language Teaching from Dong Thap University (DThU), who are participating in the Interim Field Trip course under the academic exchange program between SSU and DThU.This is the largest international student delegation ever received by SSU, marking a significant step in the educational and research cooperation strategy between the two universities.
The students were greeted with the Hadang ritual - a traditional ceremony of the Waraynon people in the Visayas region of the Philippines. The ritual symbolizes welcome, good fortune, and respect for visitors from afar. This cultural experience deepens mutual understanding and promotes international integration among the students.
The opening ceremony of the course was held at SSU’s Convention Center with the attendance of university leaders and key officials including: Dr. Redentor S. Palencia - President; Engr. Lourdes Amante - Vice President for Administration and Finance; Dr. Gina U. Españo - Vice President for Student Affairs; Dr. Elmer Irene - Director of International Relations; Dr. Lanie M. Pacadaljen - Dean of Graduate School; Dr. Laura B. Boller – Dean of Education; Dr. Florabelle B. Patosa - Dean of Arts and Humanities; Dr. Nathalie Ann Acosta - Program Chair of Master of Arts in English Education; Mr. Jake Boy Carbonquillo - Director of Quality Assurance.
In the welcoming remarks, Dr. Redentor S. Palencia emphasized the role of education in fostering a global community: “As global citizens, we embrace each other’s differences and rejoice in the similarities that connect us as one people and one village . . . Let us give back to the society the learnings exchanged through this visit so we can create positive and lasting impacts in our respective borders and beyond.”
On behalf of the DThU graduate students, Mr. Phan Phu Cuong expressed sincere gratitude for SSU’s warm reception and showed a strong desire to further strengthen academic ties between the institutions in the future.
During their stay in the Philippines, the students will engage in hands-on learning modules focused on English teaching methodologies, curriculum development, assessment and evaluation, and intercultural teaching competence. In addition, they will take part in field trips and academic-cultural exchanges in the cities of Catbalogan and Calbayog. These activities, coordinated by SSU’s Office of International Affairs, the Graduate School, and local authorities, highlight a shared commitment to the internationalization of education and the building of sustainable networks among Southeast Asian universities.
This Interim Field Trip at SSU offers a valuable opportunity for DThU graduate students to explore contemporary teaching methods, enrich their international exposure, and enhance their professional competencies in the context of globalization.Moreover, it affirms the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation in higher education and underscores Vietnam’s growing role in the ASEAN educational network.
Photos of the ceremony:
News & Photos: OIAC—ContributorsTranslation: Chanh Truc