Asean Integration to Education in Selected Higher Educational Institutions: An Analysis

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the level of commitment and effectiveness of the implementation of ASEAN Integration in higher educational institutions in the Region 4A in the Philippines. The participants in the study were the administrators, presidents, vice presidents, deans, program chairs, and department heads of selected schools. The participating schools are located in the province of Quezon and San Pablo City, Laguna. As a tool, a self-made questionnaire was constructed and used for data collection. The indicators were on the ASEAN Integration materials from the ASEAN Secretariat stating the Roles in Education towards ASEAN goals. The three (3) pillars are: (a) Politics and security(b) Economics, and (c) Socio-Cultural.

METHODS

Weighted Mean, T-test was used to determine the significant difference of effectiveness and commitment of respondent schools to the ASEAN Integration. The quantitative research design was made for finding and interpreting the results. Purposive sampling was used.

RESULTS

The results and findings of the study presented the level of commitment and effectiveness of the ASEAN integration implementation. The findings of this study have a high acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach Alpha= .919). The Implementation of ASEAN integration was interpreted as effective in terms of politics and security. In economic and socio-cultural aspects, it was interpreted as highly effective respectively. For the level of commitment in terms of politics and security, economics and socio-cultural, it was interpreted as highly committed in the level of commitment to ASEAN Integration. The test of difference comparing the levels of effectiveness and commitment with computed t-value is -3.324 and it has a p-value (0.002) that is less than the level of significance (0.01), thus the null hypothesis was rejected. Therefore, the level of effectiveness and commitment to ASEAN integration was significantly different.

DISCUSSIONS

The recommendations of the researcher were as follows: To promote cultural awareness among teachers through exchange programs, coordinate for exchange foreign students program, strengthen cooperation between education and business sectors, participate in the publication of international research journals, participate in international research conventions, promote cultural awareness among teachers through incorporation of faculty development activities abroad, and enhance the knowledge of school leaders on politics and security at regional level.