Karawang, August 7, 2025 – Universitas Singaperbangsa Karawang (Unsika)`s English Education Study Program in collaboration with the Primary English Language Teachers in Indonesia (PELTIN), successfully held the International Conference SEECON x PELTIN 2025. Carrying the theme “Re-Contextualising English Language Education: Teaching English to Young Learners in the Digital Age,” the conference was conducted in a hybrid format from Aula Syekh Quro Unsika and streamed worldwide via Zoom and YouTube.
The event brought together international scholars, national experts, and practitioners to explore how English language teaching, particularly for young learners, can adapt to the opportunities and challenges of the digital age.
Opening Ceremony: Marking Global Collaboration
The international conference commenced with the Indonesian national anthem and Unsika Hymn, followed by welcoming speeches from Uniska leaders and partner representatives. In his address, Rector Prof. Dr. Ade Maman Suherman, S.H., M.H. emphasized that the joint conference signifies Unsika’s growing role as a hub for global academic dialogue in English language education.
The signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and Institutional Agreements (IA) with partner institutions underscored Unsika’s commitment to expanding international collaboration in teaching, research, and professional development.
Keynote and Plenary Sessions: Bridging Policy and Classroom Practice
A series of keynote and plenary sessions enriched the conference with a wide range of perspectives. Prof. Ali Saukah, M.A., Ph.D. from Universitas Muhammadiyah Kalimantan Timur sparked discussion on whether Indonesia is ready to mandate English as a primary school subject. From the British Council, Davide Guarini Gilmartin presented a video showcase while Buyung Sudrajat highlighted nationwide initiatives for strengthening teacher professional development. Adding an international perspective, Dr. Derek Irwin of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China explored the use of bilingual drama for young learners through a systemic functional linguistic lens. Meanwhile, Linda Walton from Sekolah Ciputra Surabaya examined how artificial intelligence can transform English classrooms for children, and Harni Kartika Ningsih, Ph.D. of Universitas Indonesia introduced the Reading to Learn (R2L) for early EFL literacy development. Unsika lecturers also played an important role, with Dr. Sidik Indra Nugraha analyzing the digital horizons of early English education and Dr. Yogi Setia Samsi demonstrating the value of corpus tools for teaching and research.
Parallel Sessions: Sharing Global and Local Research
Parallel sessions featured presenters from Indonesian and international universities, sharing findings across pedagogy, digital literacy, multimodality, and classroom practices for young learners. Held in both Aula Syekh Quro and Zoom breakout rooms, these sessions offered early-career researchers and postgraduate students valuable opportunities to engage in professional discourse and build international networks.
Workshops: Practical Innovation in Action
Complementing the plenary and parallel sessions, interactive workshops were facilitated by PELTIN and partners. Prof. Ika Lestari Damayanti, Ph.D. of PELTIN guided participants through strategies for teaching reading using multimodal texts, while Tina Priyantin, M.Pd. from Universitas Pakuan shared classroom-based approaches tailored to young learners. From the private sector, Christian Puguh Sulistyo of Pearson introduced the AI Smart Lesson Generator, a practical digital tool for lesson planning. Closing the workshop series, Dr. Finita Dewi (UPI/British Council) demonstrated how technology can be integrated effectively into lesson plan design.
The conference concluded with awards recognizing the Best Presenter and Best Participant, celebrating outstanding contributions and active engagement throughout the day. As the international conference formally ended at 16:05 WIB, participants left with renewed energy, having forged new collaborations and gained fresh insights into the evolving field of English language education.
For Unsika and PELTIN, SEECON x PELTIN 2025 was more than an academic gathering; it was a platform for international exchange and professional growth, uniting global scholarship with local expertise. By combining SEECON’s international academic reach with PELTIN’s practitioner-focused network, the event successfully bridged theory and practice, policy and pedagogy. Looking ahead, the conference reaffirmed the urgency of equipping Indonesia’s young learners not only with strong English proficiency but also with digital literacies essential for navigating an interconnected world.