As part of its ongoing commitment to regional capacity building, SEAMEO QITEP in Science (SEAQIS) co-organised the Master Class for Science Teachers in Southeast Asia, a regional teacher training programme held in Guiyang, China, from 26 to 31 July 2025. The programme was hosted by Guizhou Teacher Development Center in collaboration with the Guizhou Provincial Department of Education, Guizhou Normal University, and the ASEAN-China Centre. The training was conducted as part of the 2025 China–ASEAN Education Cooperation Week (CAECW).
Under the theme “Empowering Science Teachers and Cultivating Future Science and Technology Talents,” the training brought together 45 science teachers from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. The programme aimed to strengthen professional competencies, foster cross-cultural understanding, and enhance regional collaboration in science education.
Over six days, participants engaged in a range of activities to deepen their understanding of science education in both local and international contexts. The programme began with the CAECW opening ceremony and the Seminar on International Teacher Exchange and Cooperation, where keynote speakers from SEAQIS, Southeast Asian and Chinese education ministries, and top universities shared insights on innovative practices and cross-border collaboration. In the following days, participants explored scientific inquiry, innovative teaching, and assessment design, and observed science programmes at Guiyang No. 1 Experimental High School, gaining first-hand exposure to a system that values tradition, teacher recognition, and student empowerment. The programme culminated in the China–Southeast Asia Science Teacher Symposium, which fostered rich exchanges with Guizhou’s teacher development leaders and laid the groundwork for future cooperation.
“This programme gave Southeast Asian teachers valuable new perspectives, especially on China’s science teaching approaches,” said Septian Karyana, Head of ICT, Data, and Evaluation Division of SEAQIS.
Echoing this sentiment, Nguyễn Mai Linh, a participant from Vietnam, shared, “I learned and updated new concepts of science education to improve the effectiveness of teaching development. We can’t wait to bring these insights back to our classrooms.”
Cultural activities such as calligraphy, local excursions, and musical performances further enriched the experience, fostering friendship and regional solidarity.
At the closing ceremony, Liu Bo, Director of Guizhou Teacher Development, remarked, “This training is not only about science education, but also about building trust, friendship, and lasting connections.”
The training not only enhanced the professional skills of participating teachers but also demonstrated the power of international collaboration. Through its active involvement, SEAQIS continues to promote excellence in science education and build stronger educational linkages across Southeast Asia.
Writer: Rizwan Darmawan
