Department of Learning, Teaching and Curriculum

Dr. Vicente Handa earned a Bachelor of Secondary Education from West Visayas State University in the Philippines, a Master of Arts in chemistry education from the University of the Philippines-Dilman, and a graduate certificate in interdisciplinary qualitative studies and a Ph.D. in science education from the University of Georgia. 

For the last 27 years, Dr. Handa has been a teacher educator, teaching graduate and undergraduate courses in elementary science, science education, qualitative research, assessment, and other subjects related to professional education.

Prior to Appalachian, he was an academic professor of science education and qualitative research, and the director of research at West Visayas State University. He was also the commissioner for cultural dissemination for the National Commission for Culture and the Arts in the Philippines. 

His research interests are centered on the sociology and anthropology of science education with a particular focus on making science education more relevant to learners' lives.

Through various research opportunities, Handa was able to travel and learn about other cultures and science education in East Asian countries. He completed cross-cultural research on the indigenization and hybridization of the science curriculum in Thailand and Japan and included some side trips to Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Indonesia, and Taiwan. 

Learn more about Dr. Handa and his work through his digital Curriculum Vitae.