The President of APSPBI Remarks

Distinguished Guests, Honorable Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Prof. Dr. Abdul Mu'ti, Esteemed Keynote and Plenary Speakers, Respected Institutional Delegates, Colleagues, and Friends,

On behalf of the Association of English Education Study Programs (APSPBI), it is my distinct honor and privilege to warmly welcome you to the APSPBI International Conference and Annual Business Meeting 2026.

This year, we gather—both physically here at the beautiful Millennium Hotel Sirih Jakarta and virtually from across the globe—under a theme that is not just timely, but urgently necessary: "Humanizing English Language Education in the Age of AI: Transformative Learning, Ethics, and Teacher Agency."

We are standing at a critical crossroads in the history of education. The rapid advancement of generative Artificial Intelligence has brought unprecedented opportunities to our pedagogical landscape, but it has also brought understandable anxieties. As educators, it is natural to question the future of our profession when machines can process, translate, and generate language in mere seconds.

However, let us ground ourselves in a fundamental reality: technology cannot replicate the empathy, cultural intuition, and deep pedagogical wisdom of a human teacher. An algorithm can correct grammar, but it cannot inspire a struggling student. Our role is not being replaced; rather, it is being profoundly elevated.

Over the next few days, we are called to explore how we can thoughtfully integrate AI into our classrooms without losing our humanistic core. We will delve into critical discussions on how to foster active, transformative learning, uphold unwavering academic integrity, and, most importantly, assert our Teacher Agency. We must remain the primary architects of our classrooms, utilizing AI as an empowering tool rather than a pedagogical crutch.

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to our extraordinary lineup of speakers—Prof. Francis M. Hult, Dr. Angela Farrell, Prof. Ahmed Bashir, Dr. Esther Tong, Prof. Sandra Kaneko-Marques, and Dr. Noni Agustina—for bringing their global expertise to our forum. Special thanks are also due to our dedicated organizing committee and our partner institutions whose tireless efforts have made this hybrid conference a reality.

To all our delegates: whether you are joining us for the vibrant face-to-face networking here in Jakarta or engaging through our interactive digital platforms, I encourage you to connect, challenge existing paradigms, and build meaningful academic partnerships.

Welcome to Jakarta, welcome to our virtual halls, and thank you for your unwavering dedication to the future of English Language Education. I wish you all a highly inspiring, productive, and transformative conference.

Warmest regards,

Dr. Ummi Khaerati Syam, S.Pd., M.Pd.
President, English Language Education Study Programs Association (ELESPA/APSPBI)
Jakarta, Indonesia – 2026