JOHOR BAHRU, June 26 – A group of teacher trainees from Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA), Indonesia, completed a two-week International Teacher Trainee Immersion Program (ITTIP) 2026 at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pulai Jaya, Skudai, Johor Bahru, marking a significant milestone in cross-border educational collaboration between Malaysia and Indonesia.

Held from June 15 to 26, 2026, the program was jointly coordinated by UNESA and facilitated through the host school, SMK Pulai Jaya, with support from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The initiative placed six Indonesian trainees directly in a Malaysian national secondary school environment, providing them with an authentic, immersive school-based experience under the guidance of experienced Malaysian mentor teachers.

SMK Pulai Jaya formally received the trainees on 15 June 2026 through an Initiation Ceremony, during which the UNESA delegation was officially handed over to the school’s principal and administrative team, symbolizing the beginning of a meaningful institutional partnership.

Throughout the two weeks, the trainees progressed through a structured three-phase teaching practice: classroom observation, assisted co-teaching alongside Malaysian mentor teachers, and fully independent lesson delivery. Subject areas covered included core national curriculum subjects, with each trainee assigned to specific classes and monitored through daily mentor feedback sessions.

Beyond the classroom, the program incorporated rich cross-cultural learning experiences. Trainees observed the integration of Islamic values in daily school routines, participated in co-curricular activities, and engaged meaningfully with students and staff.

To ensure reflective and evidence-based learning, trainees completed comprehensive daily reports and reflective journal entries grounded in Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle — a structured approach widely adopted in teacher education to promote critical self-evaluation and professional growth. Weekly summaries and self-assessments were also submitted, providing both the trainees and the UNESA coordinator with tangible records of professional development.

The program culminated in a Closing Ceremony held at SMK Pulai Jaya on June 26, 2026, officiated by the Kulai District Education Officer, Hj. Abd Rahman Salleh, and attended by school administrators, mentor teachers, and the UNESA delegation. Certificates of participation were presented to each trainee, and tokens of appreciation were exchanged between both institutions as a symbol of the bilateral partnership forged over the two weeks.

Speaking at the ceremony, the program coordinator expressed confidence that the immersion experience had meaningfully shaped the trainees’ professional identity, cultural sensitivity, and readiness for the 21st-century classroom. The success of ITTIP 2026 is expected to pave the way for sustainable annual collaboration between UNESA and other schools, with UTM serving as the academic bridge connecting the participating institutions.