Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, August 15,16, 2026. Five lecturers from the English Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) are participating in the 16th International Conference of TESOL & Education (ICTE), held on August 15–16, 2026, at the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
The conference carries the theme “AI in Research, Teacher Development, and Professional Practice,” focusing on the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in academic research, teacher professional development, and educational practice. The event provides an international forum for lecturers, researchers, teachers, and education practitioners to exchange knowledge, research findings, and innovative ideas in response to the rapid development of AI in education.
Representing the English Education Study Program of FKIP UMSU are Dr. Pirman Ginting, S.Pd., M.Hum., Head of the English Education Study Program, Muhammad Rafi’i, S.Pd., M.A., Adib Jasni Kharisma, S.Pd., M.Hum., Henny Mardiah, S.Pd., M.A., and Khairun Nissa, S.Pd., M.TESOL.
Their participation reflects the English Education Study Program’s commitment to strengthening international academic engagement and encouraging its lecturers to actively contribute to the global academic community.
According to Dr. Pirman Ginting, S.Pd., M.Hum., Head of the English Education Study Program, participation in international academic forums is an important part of developing the quality and visibility of the study program.
“International conferences provide our lecturers with opportunities to share their academic work, learn from scholars and practitioners from different countries, and build meaningful international networks. We encourage our lecturers not only to be active at the national level but also to contribute to the international academic community,” said Dr. Pirman Ginting.
He further emphasized that international academic participation should be followed by the dissemination of knowledge and experiences to students and fellow lecturers at UMSU. In this way, international engagement can provide broader benefits for the development of the study program.
Meanwhile, Selamat Husni Hasibuan, Ph.D., Secretary of the English Education Study Program, expressed his appreciation for the lecturers’ participation and emphasized the importance of continuously encouraging academic productivity and international exposure.
“We continue to encourage our lecturers to keep creating, publishing, presenting, and contributing, not only at the national level but also internationally like going to Vietnam. Our lecturers have valuable ideas, research, and professional experiences that deserve to be shared with the wider academic community. International conferences are one of the important platforms for making that contribution visible,” said Selamat Husni Hasibuan, Ph.D.
He also highlighted that internationalization should not be understood merely as attending events abroad, but as an opportunity to exchange knowledge, establish collaboration, strengthen research networks, and bring international perspectives back into the academic environment at UMSU.
The theme of this year’s ICTE is particularly relevant to the current development of English language education. Artificial Intelligence is increasingly influencing how teachers prepare learning materials, design classroom activities, conduct assessment, undertake research, and develop their professional competencies. Therefore, discussions surrounding the responsible, ethical, and pedagogically meaningful use of AI are becoming increasingly important for English educators.
For the English Education Study Program, participation in the conference is also part of its broader effort to strengthen research productivity, international collaboration, lecturer professional development, and global academic visibility. The lecturers are expected to share the knowledge and insights gained from the conference with students and colleagues upon returning to UMSU.
The participation of the five lecturers demonstrates that academic development within the English Education Study Program is not limited to the local or national context. It reflects a continuing commitment to positioning UMSU lecturers as active contributors to international conversations in English language teaching, teacher education, educational research, and the responsible integration of AI in professional practice.
Through continued participation in international academic forums, the English Education Study Program hopes to expand its international partnerships, encourage more lecturers and students to engage in global academic activities, and strengthen its contribution to the development of English language education both nationally and internationally.
Key Information
- Event: The 16th International Conference of TESOL & Education (ICTE)
- Theme: AI in Research, Teacher Development, and Professional Practice
- Date: August 15–16, 2026
- Venue: Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Representatives from UMSU:
- Dr. Pirman Ginting, S.Pd., M.Hum. — Head of the English Education Study Program
- Muhammad Rafi’i, S.Pd., M.A.
- Adib Jasni Kharisma, S.Pd., M.Hum.
- Henny Mardiah, S.Pd., M.A.
- Khairun Nissa, S.Pd., M.TESOL
- Study Program: English Education Study Program
- Faculty: Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP)
- University: Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU)
