Dr. Nel Bryan C. Tugelida of North La Union Campus and Dr. Aniza C. Gadaza of Mid La Union Campus completed a two-week exchange program at Universitas Kristen Indonesia (UKI) in Jakarta, Indonesia from November 3 to 15, 2024.

Dr. Nel Bryan led a community service workshop titled “Fun with AI: Hands-On Technology Workshop for Middle School Students,” introducing young learners to the basics of artificial intelligence. He also delivered a lecture on “AI in Higher Education: Perspectives, Applications, and Learning Transformations” among UKI lecturers, highlighting the transformative role of AI in education.

Meanwhile, Dr. Aniza shared her expertise in strategic management through a public lecture at the Faculty of Economics and Business. She also facilitated a class session comparing the politics and government systems of the Philippines and Indonesia, offering insights into regional governance and policy development.

As part of the exchange program, both professors participated in benchmarking meetings with UKI’s Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Faculty of Letters and Languages, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, and Faculty of Economics and Business. These discussions focused on sharing best practices and exploring collaborative opportunities between the two institutions.

To enrich their cultural experience, UKI organized weekend tours to historic sites in Jakarta, allowing the DMMMSU professors to immerse themselves in the local heritage. Their visit underscores the value of academic partnerships in advancing education and cultural understanding.

Upon their return to the Philippines, Dr. Nel Bryan and Dr. Aniza went directly to the Embassy of Indonesia in Manila for a courtesy call to Indonesian Embassy officials. During the visit, they expressed their gratitude for the warm reception in Jakarta and discussed the potential for deeper academic and cultural collaborations between DMMMSU and Indonesian institutions.