Dr. Jennifer T. De Jesus, Head of the Institute of Sports, Physical Education and Leisure Studies; Dr. Sharon E. Lazaro, Associate Professor of the College of Science; and Dr. Jerwin R. Undan, Head of the CLSU Biotechnology and Analytical Laboratory, led the cultural orientation and shared insights from their respective alumni universities during the Pre-Departure Orientation and Seminar for the Pre-Service Student Teacher Exchange in Southeast Asia (SEA-Teacher) Project Pilot Batch 11 at the Academic Affairs Amphitheater on January 29.

Drawing from their international academic experiences, the faculty members shared practical knowledge on cultural awareness, academic expectations, and daily life abroad to better prepare the participants for their overseas teaching engagement.

Dr. De Jesus shared her academic experiences and cultural immersion during her studies at Universitas Negeri Jakarta, Indonesia, where she earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Physical Education and Sports. Dr. Lazaro discussed key aspects of Thai culture based on her time at Walailak University, Thailand, where she pursued her Doctor of Philosophy in Chemistry. Meanwhile, Dr. Undan, an alumnus of Iwate University, Japan, provided practical insights and background on Japanese culture, highlighting academic discipline, social norms, and everyday practices.

The session shows the active role of CLSU faculty in guiding and mentoring students toward international exposure, reinforcing the University’s commitment to internationalization by equipping pre-service teachers with the cultural competence and confidence needed for global engagement.