Revisiting Teacher Training in Indonesia: A Personal Reflection on My Scholarly Contribution
Revisiting Teacher Training in Indonesia: A Personal Reflection on My Scholarly Contribution
by Arfiyan Ridwan
In July 2024, I received an invitation from my lecturers, Dr. Bambang and Dr. Lukman, to co-author a book chapter in the Springer publication Handbook of Teachers' Voices in the Global South. The chapter, titled Navigating the Challenges: The Complex Landscape of Teacher In-Service Training in Indonesia (officially published on April 2026) marked an important moment in my academic journey, as it allowed me to engage in international scholarly writing on the historical development of teacher in-service training in Indonesia. The invitation aligned closely with my research area, which focuses on teacher education and professional development in the Indonesian context. At the time, I was starting to work on my dissertation whose literature review covers how Indonesian in-service teachers have been trained across the historical periods of the country.
My literature review for my dissertation explores the evolution of in-service teacher education in Indonesia, covering the periods of the Dutch colonialization and the Japanese occupation to the early independence, the Old Order, the New Order, and the reform period to nowadays. This literature review writing provides me a strong foundation in writing the chapter. The part in which I contributed to write is in the historical development of teacher in-service training in Indonesia in the period of the New Order with centralization of education before it shifted to decentralization in the next phase of governance in reform period. I see that this period became a significant phase of teacher training in Indonesia as the current programs of in-service teacher training was significantly initiated in this period.
The significant insight I have gained from assessing teacher training development in the particularly the New Order era to the present day is that there has been a long journey of how teachers have been trained with different schemes and needs. After the large-scale training programs for primary and secondary school teachers in 1975 to 1980, the key trainings during the period of the New Order comprise Pemantapan Kerja Guru (PKG) or Strengthening the Work of Teachers, the Sanggar Pemantapan Kerja Guru (SPKG), or Centers for Strengthening Teacher Work, Kelompok Kerja Guru (KKG), or Primary School Working Group KKG, and Musyawarah Guru Mata Pelajaran (MGMP), or Subject Teacher Working Group for secondary school teachers. At this time of year, I see that there has been a great foundation of how teachers are prepared in the level of primary and secondary level of education. The developed programs in the reform era to the present day can be said to be the results of those in the massive teacher development in the New Order period.
However, through examining their historical development, I realize that many recurring issues, including limited coordination, uneven implementation, and questions of effectiveness, have persisted across different programs and periods. This realization suggests that the core challenges are not simply the result of individual program design, but are rooted in broader structural conditions, such as bureaucratic complexity, resource distribution, and the vast geographical context of Indonesia. Despite claims that the in-service teacher trainings in the New Order succeeded to train teachers with significant numbers, the actual implementations might not be satisfying enough. What lesson I take away is that the goal of improving teacher professional development is not merely introducing a new program to replace the old ones. Instead, it requires systemic changes how training is designed based on the needs, carefully planned, and sustained to the next periods.
Another important insight from the book chapter writing is that the extent of the modern teacher professional education program called PPG (Pendidikan profesi Guru) be understood as a part of historical trajectory from the Old Order period, rather than a new program or initiative. Currently, I am researching PPG for my doctoral dissertation research, and this is very relevant to what I analyzed in the book chapter. On this standpoint, I can critically reconsider how far the program of PPG represents genuine reform and resolves the past challenges of teacher in-service training. Specifically, I am researching to what extent the current PPG can accommodate the proper training for English language teachers assigned to teach in elementary schools in which previously, English teachers did not have a tenure teaching position in elementary school. After the issuance of new policy that in 2027 English subject becomes a mandatory subject in elementary school, PPG has been provided to train in-service English teachers in elementary school. Historical perspective is needed to understand PPG for this context, and I am glad to analyze the historical evolution of PPG from the New Order to the present day. While PPG is often positioned as a comprehensive effort to enhance teacher professionalism, the chapter may also reflect a reconfiguration of earlier training models, carrying forward both their strengths and unresolved limitations.
Finally, I would say that this experience to write in the book chapter has reinforced my belief that improving teacher professional development in Indonesia requires not only new program initiatives, but also a deeper engagement with the historical and continuous improvement to create sustainable and context specific needs of the trained teachers.
UIII Community Engagement Initiative Empowers Students at Sekolah Indonesia Riyadh
UIII Community Engagement Initiative Empowers Students at Sekolah Indonesia Riyadh
Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) continues to strengthen its international outreach through a community engagement initiative conducted by Uswatun Hasanah, a PhD student from the Faculty of Education, UIII, at Sekolah Indonesia Riyadh (SIR), Saudi Arabia. The two-day public speaking workshop aimed to equip Indonesian students abroad with essential communication skills while promoting UIII as Indonesia’s only public international university. Although conducted over two days, the program consisted of one day of institutional meeting and one day dedicated to the workshop.
The program began on the first day with an institutional meeting involving the Education Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh, the school principal, and the school management team. The meeting focused on discussing the objectives of the workshop, aligning expectations, and exploring opportunities for future collaboration between Sekolah Indonesia Riyadh and UIII, particularly in supporting students’ academic and personal development.
The public speaking workshop was held on the second day and attended by junior high school students. Approximately 80 students participated onsite, while 12 students joined online through the school’s Distance Learning Program (PJJ), reflecting the school’s inclusive hybrid learning system. The participants represented the diverse profile of Sekolah Indonesia Riyadh, with many students coming from Indonesian–international mixed families. The school requires all students to be able to speak Bahasa Indonesia, reinforcing cultural identity among Indonesian diaspora youth.
In his opening remarks, the Principal of Sekolah Indonesia Riyadh, Mr. Nono Purnomo, expressed his sincere gratitude to UIII for the collaboration and conveyed his strong hope for continued cooperation in the future. He highlighted the school’s notable student achievements, including the participation of three SIR students in a United Nations–style international forum in Thailand. This achievement, he emphasized, further underlines the importance of public speaking skills in enabling students to confidently express ideas and represent themselves in international forums. He encouraged students to fully engage in the workshop, describing it as a rare and valuable opportunity to learn directly from an expert speaker from Indonesia.
Throughout the session, students demonstrated high levels of enthusiasm and active participation. They listened attentively to the materials and confidently shared opinions and responses without hesitation. The most engaging moment occurred during the practice session, where students worked in pairs to select one of eight provided topics, develop a short draft, rehearse together, and voluntarily present their ideas in front of the audience. The response exceeded expectations, with many students, both female and male, eagerly volunteering to present. Due to limited time, some students even competed for presentation opportunities by doing “suit” (rock-paper-scissors), reflecting their strong motivation to speak and receive immediate feedback.
During the workshop, the speaker shared compelling insights into why public speaking skills play a crucial role in academic success and future opportunities. Drawing from her personal educational journey, she explained how public speaking competence supported her success in securing three prestigious scholarships: the Indonesian English Language Study Program (IELSP) at Virginia Tech in 2011, the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) Program at Ohio University in 2021–2022, and the LPDP Scholarship for her PhD studies at Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia in 2024. She emphasized that strong communication skills were essential in passing rigorous scholarship interviews, particularly at the final selection stages. Visual presentations of her academic experiences in the United States and UIII further inspired students and provided concrete evidence that public speaking skills can open doors to global educational opportunities.
The session also introduced Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) as Indonesia’s only public international university, offering a world-class academic environment with international faculty members, global research networks, interdisciplinary Islamic studies, and cross-cultural learning experiences. Students were encouraged to see UIII as a future study destination where they can pursue internationally oriented higher education without leaving Indonesia.
This program reflects UIII’s commitment to meaningful community engagement and knowledge sharing beyond national borders. The positive responses from students and school leadership demonstrate the impact of the initiative and reinforce the shared aspiration for sustained collaboration between Sekolah Indonesia Riyadh and Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia in empowering Indonesian students to thrive academically and globally.
source: https://uiii.ac.id/uiii-community-engagement-initiative-empowers-students-at-sekolah-indonesia-riyadh/
Advancing Future Education: Faculty of Education Hosts Global Experts for 5th Annual Conference
Advancing Future Education: Faculty of Education Hosts Global Experts for 5th Annual Conference
April 2, 2026
By Atia Adjani | Photos: Achmad Jatnika
Depok, Indonesia – The Faculty of Education at Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) commenced its 5th Annual Conference on Education, held from April 1 to 2, 2026. Under the theme “Transforming Education for Future Generations: Advancing Global Justice and Innovation.”, the two-day event brings together international researchers to share new ideas and contribute to the Muslim Education Review (MER) journal.
Led by convenor Andar Nubowo, Ph.D., the conference features 6 full papers and 122 abstracts selected from 146 initial submissions. These works are presented before a panel of global experts, reflecting the university’s commitment to advancing academic excellence and educational innovation.
The event features distinguished lineup of international keynote speakers, including Prof. Ahmad Najib Burhani (Director General of Science and Technology, Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology), Claire-Marie Hefner, Ph.D. (Union College), Dr. Farah Akbar (University of Edinburgh), and Prof. Dr. Jérémy Jammes (RICSEA).
Prof. Nina Nurmila, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, highlighted that international support for UIII remains robust despite its status as a new institution. She noted that the university continues to strengthen its global standing through strategic partnerships and dual-degree programs with prestigious universities.
“This conference is a global platform for interdisciplinary dialogue and policy solutions to address challenges such as the digital divide and resources inequality,” stated UIII Rector, Prof. Jamhari. He noted that the theme is very important to the university’s mission of solving modern education challenges through international discussion.
The annual event helps UIII strengthen its role in global academic talks and fitter research. Through these efforts, the university continues to build its international networks and improve education for the next generation.
The 5th Faculty of Education Annual Conference 2026: “Transforming Education for Future Generations: Advancing Global Justice and Innovation.”
The 5th Faculty of Education Annual Conference 2026 is getting closer.
This year's conference raises the theme “Transforming Education for Future Generations: Advancing Global Justice and Innovation.”
Keynote Speakers:
* Prof. Brian Yuliarto, S.T., M.Eng., Ph.D. (Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology)
* Claire-Marie Hefner, PhD (Union College, United States of America)
* Dr. Farah Akbar (University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom)
* Prof. Dr. Jérémy Jammes (Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia, Thailand)
The two-day conference will be held on Wednesday-Thursday, April 1-2, 2026. Mark your calendar and don't forget to join the conference!
🌐 Registration link as participants: https://s.uiii.id/ConferenceFoE2026
📍 Venue: Lecture Hall, Rectorate Building Ulll (6th Floor)
Live streaming will be available on UIII official Youtube channel.
Estudia 2026–2027 Inauguration & Iftar Gathering
Estudia 2026–2027 Inauguration & Iftar Gathering🌙
An evening of reflection, togetherness, and renewed commitment.
Through this iftar gathering, we also celebrated the inauguration of the new leadership of Estudia, the student organization of the Faculty of Education at the International Islamic University Indonesia.
Continuing the journey of learning, collaboration, and contribution to the future of education.
Open Rekrutmen Program Volunteer Pengajar BIPA (Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing) UIII 2026
Open Rekrutmen
Program Volunteer Pengajar BIPA (Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing) UIII 2026
Kantor Kemahasiswaan dan Layanan Internasional (KKLI) UIII membuka kesempatan kepada sivitas akademika UIII untuk berkontribusi dalam pengajaran Bahasa Indonesia kepada mahasiswa internasional UIII angkatan 2025. Melalui program ini, peserta tidak hanya berkesempatan mengenalkan Bahasa Indonesia dan budaya kepada penutur asing, tetapi juga dapat mengembangkan portofolio profesional dalam bidang komunikasi, pengajaran, dan interaksi lintas budaya.
?Persyaratan
* Dosen dan/atau staf UIII
* Mahasiswa aktif UIII Warga Negara Indonesia (WNI)
* Mahasiswa aktif UIII Warga Negara Asing (WNA) dengan kemampuan Bahasa Indonesia setara tingkat B2/di atasnya
* Memiliki komitmen dan tanggung jawab
* Pengalaman mengajar menjadi nilai tambah
?️Fasilitas
* Sertifikat sebagai Pengajar BIPA
* Pengalaman mengajar dan relasi lintas budaya
* Insentif menarik
?Waktu Pendaftaran
5–10 Februari 2026
Link Pendaftaran
https://s.uiii.id/Rekrutmen
▶️Untuk informasi lebih lanjut, silakan lihat dokumen PDF Terms of Reference Program pada tautan berikut https://s.uiii.id/ToR
▶️Lihat berita Program Volunteer Pengajar BIPA UIII Tahun 2025 pada tautan berikut :
https://uiii.ac.id/uiii-concludes-bipa-volunteering-program-with-success-celebrating-shared-learning-and-cultural-exchange/
Daftar Sekarang, Kuota Terbatas!
Tim BIPA UIII
Kantor Kemahasiswaan dan Layanan Internasional
Faculty of Education 2026 Affiliated Fellowships ✨
Faculty of Education, UIII is pleased to invite researchers and academics for the FoE Affiliated Fellowships ✨
Affiliated Fellowship
(Open all-year around)
The affiliated fellowship is unfunded fellowship intended for researchers or PhD scholars whose work aligns with the Faculty of Education (FoE) area of interest: Curriculum Teaching and Learning; Educational Assessment and Evaluation; Educational Policy, Management and Leadership; and Education and Society. This fellowship comes with office space, access to the university library collection, and engage with the academic activities at the FoE. The duration of the fellowship is between 1-3 months (with the possibility of extension).
If you are interested in an affiliated fellowship at the FoE, please download the form from https://s.uiii.id/FoEAffiliate2026 and send it to education@uiii.ac.id
For further information, please visit: https://foe.uiii.ac.id/
For inquiries, please contact: education@uiii.ac.id
UIII Takes the Front Line in Combating Sexual Violence on Campus
UIII Takes the Front Line in Combating Sexual Violence on Campus
January 26, 2026
By Supriyono | Photo: Achmad Jatnika
Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) reaffirmed its commitment to creating a safe, respectful, and inclusive academic environment by hosting a Sexual Violence Prevention and Awareness Session on 26 January 2026. It reflected UIII’s proactive approach to preventing and addressing sexual violence through institutional regulations, awareness-building, and survivor-centered responses.
Attended by students, university leaders, faculty members, and staff, the forum emphasized that sexual violence is not merely an individual issue but a structural challenge that must be addressed through firm policies and a culture of accountability within universities.
Secretary of UIII’s Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Task Force (PPKS), Prof. Nina Nurmila, PhD, stressed that sexual violence on campus is often silenced or even justified in the name of culture, family honour, or institutional reputation, an issue that persists in many countries.
“In many parts of the world, sexual violence is still ignored or protected under the pretext of tradition, family reputation, or institutional image. This culture of silence must be addressed. At UIII, we are committed to ensuring that sexual violence is never normalized or hidden,” said Prof. Nina.
She emphasized that UIII has established clear regulations and social mechanisms to prevent sexual violence, alongside firm procedures to handle cases when violations occur.
“We already have regulations and a prevention framework in place. If sexual violence occurs, the university is prepared to respond seriously, through verification, protection for victims, and decisive follow-up in accordance with our procedures. Our commitment is to ensure that the campus remains a safe space for everyone,” she added.
Also speaking at the event, Sondang Frishka Simanjuntak, S.H., LL.M, Commissioner of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan), provided a national human rights perspective on sexual violence prevention.
She explained that Komnas Perempuan serves as Indonesia’s National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) with a specific mandate to build a conducive environment for the elimination of violence against women and the promotion of women’s human rights.
“In 2024 alone, 330,097 cases of gender-based violence against women were reported—an increase of 14.17 per cent from 289,111 cases in 2023,” Sondang said. “The majority of these cases occurred in the personal sphere, with 309,516 cases, followed by 12,004 cases in the public sphere and 209 cases involving state-related violence,” she added.
The session also drew lessons from other universities. Dr. Titin Ungsianik, S.Kp., M.B.A, Chairperson of the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Task Force at Universitas Indonesia (UI), shared insights into UI’s preventive and responsive measures.
Dr. Titin elaborated that UI has developed a Standard Operating Procedure for the Prevention and Response of Sexual Violence based on Permendikbudristek No. 55/2024, complemented by continuous education through social media, webinars, leadership training, and campus-wide surveys.
“Our efforts include communicating regularly with relevant directorates, and allocating dedicated staff (stafsus) at the university level to support the implementation of task force duties and internal coordination. Additionally, we also establishing direct collaboration with various service units within and outside the university such as Security Office, Psychologists, Komnas Perempuan,” said Dr. Titin.
Through this forum, UIII reaffirmed its commitment to going beyond compliance by actively shaping a campus culture that prioritizes safety, dignity, and human rights. By strengthening its internal mechanisms and engaging with national and peer institutions, UIII continues to position itself as a leading university in confronting sexual violence in higher education.