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Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization

SEAMEO

The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) is a regional intergovernmental organization established in 1965 among governments of Southeast Asian countries to promote regional cooperation in education, science and culture in the region.
As an organization that has continued to nurture human capacities and explored the peoples’ fullest potential, the SEAMEO maintains its work and aspirations for development with peoples of the region to make lives better in quality and equity in education, preventive health education, culture and tradition, information and communication technology, languages, poverty alleviation, and agriculture and natural resources.
The organization's highest policy-making body is the SEAMEO Council, which comprises the 11 Southeast Asian education ministers. The SEAMEO Secretariat is located in Bangkok, Thailand.

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SEAMEO RETRAC

Vietnam, re-admitted as a SEAMEO Member State on February 10, 1992, by the SEAMEO Council, hosts the SEAMEO Regional Training Center (SEAMEO RETRAC) in Ho Chi Minh City. The Center started its very first operations in October, 1996.

Vision

To be a center of excellence in education in Southeast Asia and beyond.

Mission

To assist SEAMEO Member Countries in identifying and addressing issues of education.

Functions
In cooperation with local and international organizations, SEAMEO RETRAC carries out such activities as:

training;
research and project development;
accreditation and quality assurance;
language testing and assessment;
development and promotion of models and best practices in education;
national and international cooperation development;
consultancy and information dissemination;
personnel and student exchange for educational, scientific and cultural purposes;
community outreach and development.
Operations

SEAMEO RETRAC assists SEAMEO Member Countries, especially Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam, to identify and tackle problems of leadership and management in education at all levels. SEAMEO RETRAC directs its efforts on educational issues by undertaking innovative, relevant programs through research, training, consultancy, and staff exchanges and by fostering regional and international partnerships and by engaging in other related activities within and outside the region. In addition, SEAMEO RETRAC offers language training, teacher training, information communication and technology (ICT) and other training programs customized to the learners’ needs.

Training approaches

Critical thinking and creative problem solving
Interactive, informal and hands-on experience sharing, practical learning and case studies
Innovative learner-centered
Flexible and cost-effective
Future activities

SEAMEO RETRAC focuses on upgrading its educational programs and services to a high-level standard in connection with local and foreign institutions, and on expanding the participation of learners and practitioners within and outside the region. To this end, activities will include:

Disseminating the use and management of ICT and new approaches to teaching and learning in education, particularly basic education;
Evaluating educational management needs of the region through fact-finding from needs analysis and surveys;
Designing creative and adaptable training programs, courses and conferences to bring to wider visibility identified issues in current education management theories, practices and policies, on a regional and international scale; and,
Assisting educational administrators, researchers and practitioners in the development and implementation of improved educational management policies and practices.
Furthermore, SEAMEO RETRAC will continue to assist in human resource development of the region and foster mutual cooperation and partnership with the wider world by:

Researching and surveying educational management issues;
Conducting seminars, workshops and conferences on regionally specific issues related to SEAMEO RETRAC core thrust in educational leadership and management;
Networking with related organizations/agencies and establishing linkages to serve the aforementioned goals and objectives; and,
Developing a series of customized training courses for human resource development in various sectors.
Facilities

Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, SEAMEO RETRAC is the ideal venue for local and international events for all the educational activities. It is well-equipped with over 40 spacious, air-conditioned lecture and meeting rooms. In addition, it is also furnished with language labs, an advanced computer lab, a library and an international conference hall which houses up to 150 people. Recently, SEAMEO RETRAC has installed and put in use a video teleconferencing network to develop e-Learning activities. Accommodations are provided upon request.

Organizational structure

The Center is staffed by qualified professional, administrative and service personnel working in the following divisions and departments:

Division of Education
Division of Foreign Studies
Department of International Development
Department of Personnel and Legal Affairs
Department of Planning and Finance
Department of Research and Project Development
Department of Administration
Department of Quality Assurance and Branding
Library and Information Center
ICT
Annex 2



In addition, experts from donor governments, international organizations and exchange programs from affiliated countries complement the permanent faculty and staff under partnership agreements.


SEAMEO RETRAC Governing Board Members

Dr. Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati Haji Tajuddin
Director
Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Advancement (ILIA)
Universiti Brunei Darussalam
Ministry of Education
Brunei Darussalam

Mdm Ton Sa Im
Under Secretary of State
Ministry of Education, Youth & Sports
Kingdom of Cambodia

Dr. Muhammad Hatta
Head of Center for Education and Training
Ministry of Education and Culture
Indonesia

Mr. Thongmanh Souksengchanh
Deputy Director General
Institute for Education Administration Development
Ministry of Education and Sports
Lao PDR

Mdm Hajah Serina Sauni
Director
Aminuddin Baki Institute
Ministry of Education
Malaysia

Dr. Khin Maung Oo
Rector
Yadanapon University
The Republic of Union of Myanmar

Ms. Maria Lourdes D. Pantoja
Director
National Educators Academy of the Philippines
The Philippines

Mrs. Chua-Lim Yen Ching
Executive Director
Academy of Singapore Teachers
Ministry of Education
Singapore

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Piniti Ratananukul
Secretary General
The Office of Higher Education Commission
Ministry of Education
Thailand

Dr. Deolindo da Cruz, MPA
President
National Institute for the Professional Teacher Training
Ministry of Education
Timor-Leste

Dr. Nguyen Xuan Vang
Director General
International Cooperation Department
Ministry of Education and Training
Vietnam

Dr. Ho Thanh My Phuong
(Ex-Officio Member)
Director
SEAMEO Regional Training Center
Vietnam

Dr. Gatot Hari Priowirjanto
(Ex-Officio Member)
Director
SEAMEO Secretariat
Thailand

SEAMEO RETRAC Board of Advisors

Prof. Dr. Tran Van Nhung
General Secretary of Council of the Country’s Professorship
Vietnam
Mr. Tran Ba Viet Dzung
Director General
International Cooperation Department
Ministry of Education and Training
Vietnam
Prof. Dr. David Wood
Deputy Vice Chancellor, International
Curtin University
Australia
Prof. Nguyen Cong Thanh
Director
THT-International Center for Education Development
Da Lat City
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Quang Minh
Deputy Director
National University - HCMC
Vietnam
Mr. Pham Ngoc Thanh
Deputy Director
Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training
Vietnam
SEAMEO RETRAC Leadership

Dr. Ho Thanh My Phuong
Director
Mr. Doan Xuan Bang
Head
Department of Administration
Ms. Le Thi Thuy Duong
Head
Department of Personnel and Legal Affairs
Mr. Nguyen Tan Hung
Head
Department of Planning and Finance
Ms. Trinh Thi Hoa My
Dean
Division of Foreign Studies
Dr. Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang
Deputy Dean
Division of Foreign Studies
Dr. Dang Van Hung
Senior Academic Expert
Dr. Do Thi Hoai Thu
Dean
Division of Education
Mr. Dinh Gia Bao
Deputy Dean
Division of Education
Mr. Tran Phuoc Linh
Head
Research and Project Development