A private university in Manila has ramped up its efforts to enhance teaching practices and professional growth for educators through an engagement workshop launched last July. The initiative, part of Far Eastern University’s (FEU) 400 Teachers Program, focuses on investing in programs and strategies to equip the next generation of Filipino educators with the skills needed for efficient teaching practices. Over the next five years, the institution will train and enlist a total of 200 higher education teachers, 100 teaching assistants, 50 basic education teachers and 50 nursing teachers or clinical instructors.

“The need for more efficient teaching practice and professional teacher development take up a huge chunk of the Philippine education crisis conversation, as made evident in a 2023 World Bank report,” the university said. Maria Tinio, senior vice president for academic affairs, also said the program is a testament of the university’s “commitment to the education mission.” “By investing in our teachers’ professional development, we are not only enhancing the quality of education at FEU but also contributing to the broader educational landscape in the Philippines,” Maria Tinio, senior vice president for academic affairs, said.

Teachers joining the program will receive scholarships and participate in four 90-hour engagement sessions. These sessions focus on student-centered pedagogies, assessment in student-centered classrooms, critical thinking and advance.