The secretariat of the ICTED 2008 organizing committee said some 1,000 participants are expected to attend the conference, including presidents and heads of state and local universities and colleges, as well as regional directors, schools division superintendents, supervisors, deans, directors, and faculty members.

International and national resource speakers and lecturers have been invited by the organizers based on their fields of specialization and discipline to share their expertise on education, the secretariat said. The conference will run until Saturday, July 26.

The secretariat said the gathering is in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act No. 7722, the Higher Education Act of 1994, to identify teachers’ education programs that demonstrate universityschool-community-business collaborations to improve student learning.

The conference aims to serve as a venue for international exchange of research that demonstrates the initiatives and leadership of institutions in promoting access, participation and quality in teacher programs, projects and services.

The ICTED likewise aims to strengthen professional collaboration among countries, through educational research, exchange fellowships and other learning opportunities and scholarships, and to initiate and promote cross-cultural research, collaborations and partnership among teacher education institutions.

Among those expected to attend are officials of the Mindanao State University System in Marawi City led by Dr. Nur Ashiya Taga Bacarat, assistant vice president for academic affairs, and Dr. Dayang Ali, dean of the college of education.

Meanwhile, MSU System President Dr. Macapado A. Muslim lauded the University of the Philippines for sponsoring the conference in support of Executive Order No. 570 that mandates "Institutionalizing Peace Education in Basic Education and Teacher Education".

"The EO issued by President Arroyo tasked the Department of Education to mainstream peace education in the basic formal and non-formal education curriculum, utilizing the existing peace education exemplars and other peace related modules, and to enhance the knowledge and capabilities of our school officials and teachers in strengthening quality education for academic excellence," Muslim explained.

As new president of the MSU System, Muslim said that his administration "will focus on further improving and strengthening the academic programs of the university so that I could continue to provide quality education to our youth."