BatStateU BOUND: ENGAGE expands international learning opportunities for HUTECH faculty, graduate and undergraduate students
- 09/11/2026
Connecting language education with teaching practices from around the world, BatStateU BOUND: ENGAGE gave faculty, graduate and undergraduate students from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH) opportunities to explore new approaches to teaching English, develop their intercultural communication skills, and experience academic life in the Philippines.
HUTECH and Batangas State University (BatStateU) in the Philippines jointly organized the program, which ran from October 26 to November 8, 2026. The hybrid program featured three online sessions on October 27, 28, and 29, followed by in-person learning and academic exchange activities at BatStateU.
HUTECH and BatStateU jointly organize an international academic and cultural exchange program
Officially titled “English Education and Global Academic Growth Exchange,” the program explored current issues in English language education. Topics ranged from using English as the medium of instruction and bringing sustainability into the classroom to using literature and music to develop critical thinking. This range of topics encouraged participants to consider how language teaching and learning connect with social and environmental issues and the responsibilities of global citizenship.
The online series opened on October 27 with “Challenges in EMI Classrooms,” presented by Dr. Kristoffer Conrad M. Tejada of the College of Teacher Education at BatStateU’s Pablo Borbon campus. The session examined challenges in English-medium instruction (EMI), including how prepared instructors are to teach in English, how well students can understand the material, and how to balance teaching subject content with developing students’ language skills. Dr. Tejada also discussed ways to help students overcome communication barriers and participate more actively in class.
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Dr. Kristoffer Conrad M. Tejada discusses the challenges of teaching in English
On October 28, Dr. Jayson D. Pentinio of the College of Teacher Education at BatStateU’s Lipa campus presented “Language Education for Sustainable Development: Integrating Global Issues into ESL Communication Classrooms.” Bringing global issues and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into English communication classes gives students a chance to use the language to discuss their communities, the environment, and social responsibility. It also gives them practice using English to learn about real-world issues, express their views, and contribute to solutions.
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Dr. Jayson D. Pentinio discusses how to bring global issues into English language teaching
In the final online session, Dr. Richard M. Bañez of the College of Teacher Education at BatStateU’s JPLPC-Malvar campus used the song “Paraiso” to explore language functions, rhetorical devices, and social commentary. By combining language, music, and environmental education, the session demonstrated an interactive approach to lesson design that encourages students to think critically and consider how they can act responsibly.
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Building on the three online sessions, a 15-member HUTECH delegation took part in in-person learning and academic exchange at BatStateU from November 2 to 8. The group included three faculty members and 12 graduate and undergraduate students in English Language programs. The delegation met with BatStateU leaders, visited the Pablo Borbon, Lipa, and JPLPC-Malvar campuses, attended workshops, observed English classes, and exchanged teaching experiences with BatStateU faculty.
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The HUTECH delegation attends workshops, observes classes, and exchanges teaching experiences at BatStateU
The academic activities focused on teaching English as a foreign or second language (EFL/ESL), content and language integrated learning (CLIL), and English-medium instruction (EMI). Teaching demonstrations gave participants a chance to see how concepts they had studied worked in practice, observe how lessons were structured, and explore methods they could use in their own classrooms.
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The visit gives participants knowledge and experience they can draw on in their teaching and studies
Alongside the academic activities, the delegation experienced Philippine culture and joined an online class in BatStateU’s Master of Education program with a specialization in English. The combination of academic study, hands-on learning, and cultural exchange helped participants become more adaptable, broaden their perspectives on education, and gain confidence in multicultural settings.
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