UIII's Faculty of Education Students Go on International Study Trip to Australia
UIII's Faculty of Education Students Go on International Study Trip to Australia
Generally, appreciation given by universities to outstanding students is awarded at the end of their study period. Uniquely, in the Master’s program at the Faculty of Education (FoE) at Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia, academic recognition is given at the end of the third semester, particularly after the thesis proposal. These students were selected based on their outstanding academic performance and active involvement in various educational projects. Three top students have been given the opportunity to visit Deakin University, Australia. This visit took place from May 15 to May 24, 2024. The primary goal of this visit is to promote cross-cultural understanding in a new educational atmosphere. Additionally, this trip is part of their learning process in completing their theses, providing students with the chance to consult their theses with experts from another university. This valuable experience is expected to enhance their academic knowledge and broaden their international perspectives.
Regarding the cities of Melbourne and Burwood, they exceeded the expectations. Melbourne was thought to be like cities such as Singapore, Dubai, or other modern cities that are rather dull. But that was wrong. Melbourne is incredibly beautiful. Not only is the city well-organized and clean, but there are still many houses that give off an English vibe from the 80s-90s, reminiscent of sitcoms like Mr. Bean. Seeing the scarcity of tall buildings, especially in the area where the stay was in Burwood, where tall buildings are rare, adds to the memorable impression that will be boasted about to friends because of how beautiful and aesthetic the city is.
Nevertheless, the initial experience of visiting Deakin University campus in Burwood left several positive impressions that are still vivid. First, the university buildings looked new, tidy, and highly aesthetic. Never before had the feeling of visiting a university was akin to visiting a 5-star hotel. Perhaps because the person comes from a rural area in West Java, they are easily impressed by modern interior nuances. The campus is serene and calming for a campus located in the midst of the city, in Burwood. Secondly, the person was accompanied by Deb, one of the Deakin staff, who took them on a campus tour.
What impressed the most was when visiting the Visual Art class taught by a lecturer and (in the person's opinion, an artist), Dr. Fiona. She introduced how she teaches her students. Seeing how Dr. Fiona was so enthusiastic and passionate about her field, the person, who was previously indifferent to anything related to music, became enthusiastic as well. Perhaps, the person thought, this is the quality of teachers in developed countries like Australia, where they are not just teaching to make a living but genuinely want to share knowledge with passion and positive energy. Then the person reflected, why was she so enthusiastic and passionate? Perhaps because Australia is a developed country, economically stable, thus it has a good education system. If the economy and education are well intertwined, it will undoubtedly produce the best and most passionate individuals.
In addition to exploring Deakin University Melbourne Burwood campus, we also had the opportunity to visit Deakin University Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus. We were warmly greeted by PhD candidates, Anthony and Lei Bao. Our discussions ranged from conducting PhD-level research to exploring our thesis topics, sparking valuable insights and potential collaborations in academic research.
The highlight of our visit was attending a seminar on Language and Literacy led by Paul Garner. His innovative teaching approach captivated us all. Rather than starting with theory, Paul engaged students in hands-on writing activities, encouraging them to write narratives based on various scenarios. Paul's commitment to interactive learning was evident in his meticulous preparation of materials, which included diverse writing implements and interactive tools like markers and papers. This approach not only enhanced engagement but also provided a deeper understanding of writing narratives.
Overall, Paul Garner’s seminar exemplified effective teaching methods that prioritize student participation and foster a supportive learning environment. Since we are from the faculty of education, this was an enlightening experience that underscored the importance of innovative educational practices in preparing future educators.
According to Eka, educational experiences have given him exposure to various innovative teaching approaches and methods. "It was fascinating to see the 360-degree augmented reality room as part of future education and to discuss teacher-related issues with lecturers at Deakin University." Beyond the theoretical aspect, this visit provided him with the opportunity to experience the learning atmosphere and engage in direct discussions about educational issues in both countries. It allowed him to observe the challenges and opportunities in the world of education while reflecting on the current state of education. This highlights the importance of international collaboration in addressing global educational issues.
The Faculty of Education at Universitas Internasional Indonesia places a strong emphasis on the practical application and global relevance of educational theories. By facilitating such international visits, the faculty aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world practice. The trip to Deakin University is not just an academic exercise but a strategic effort to prepare students for the global educational landscape. It underscores UIII's commitment to fostering and conducting pioneering research on Islam and Muslim communities and enhancing knowledge and social well-being. Additionally, it showcases Indonesian Islamic cultures as an integral part of global civilization.
Norwegian Expert Warns of 'Dangerous Trends' in Academia at UIII FoE Graduate Forum
Norwegian Expert Warns of 'Dangerous Trends' in Academia at UIII FoE Graduate Forum
July 08, 2024
Contributor: Supriyono | Editor: Dadi Darmadi | Photo: Achmad Jatnika
Dr. Lena Larsen, Program Director of the Norwegian Center for Human Rights, University of Oslo, Norway, warned early career researchers about the dangerous trends in academia during the 2nd Graduate Forum of the UIII Faculty of Education, held from July 4 to 5, 2024, in collaboration with the American Institute for Indonesian Studies (AIFIS).
“What we are seeing these days is a dangerous trend. There are two things that I consider as dangerous. First, the ‘mercantilization’ of academia itself,” Dr. Larsen said on the first day of the forum. “It means you are doing your study to obtain something from that degree. You are not focusing on the subject or the process. If you only want to have a diploma, that is not the objective itself,” she elaborated.
The second thing, she continued, is to focus on personal gain and self-interest, meaning that if the desire to promote yourself is bigger than the knowledge itself, then this is dangerous. “You see the biggest diamonds, the stars in the sky. It’s the same as in knowledge, they never promote themselves as good scholars. Instead, they build good personal qualities first,” she said.
Dr. Larsen emphasized that scholarly works is pretty much about doing the right thing. “If you do the right thing, you bring good personal qualities and ethics into it, that’s what will make you strive in academia. Unfortunately, it’s very much forgotten these days in the promotion of materialism of knowledge,” she said.
As a faith-based graduate educational institution, UIII aims to train scholars who not only excel in academia but also foster individuals to have a balance between the material world and spiritual orientation, science and religion, and faith and critical thinking, aided by the spirit of the wasatiyya (moderation) values.
Prof. Nelly van Doorn-Harder: We Should Not Let the Critics Discourage Us
Prof. Nelly van Doorn-Harder: We Should Not Let the Critics Discourage Us
July 05, 2024
Contributor: Supriyono | Editor: Dadi Darmadi
Professor Nelly van Doorn-Harder, an expert in religious studies from Wake Forest University, North Carolina, USA, delivered a keynote speech during the 2nd Graduate Forum at the UIII Faculty of Education (FoE) on July 4, 2024, during which she encouraged UIII students to not afraid of critique when writing scientific works.
“If you write, it’s not the critique that counts. It’s not the man who points out where the strong person stumbles or where the doers of deeds could have done it better. The credit belongs to the person who is actually there in the area,” Professor van Doorn-Harder explained.
She explained that academia is all about conversation and dialogue, thereby criticism is an inseparable part of it. “You participate and contribute one little piece, and if someone says your piece is wrong, that’s totally okay. You know that there are some scholars who spend their lifetime on things that are totally wrong.”
Professor van Doorn-Harder emphasized that the point of critics in academia is to give us room for improvement, and we should not let the critics discourage us but instead, motivate us to further flourish in our scholarly journey. “It’s not about winning, not about losing. But it is about showing up and being seen,” she noted.
As UIII focuses on international graduate education, one of its main objectives is to prepare its students to be competent scholars in their respective fields. We currently offer master’s and PhD programs in a range of fields namely Islamic Studies, Political Science and public policy, economics and sustainable finance, and education. UIII has the mission to provide an inclusive international education aimed at empowering communities and fostering global outreach.
Faculty of Education Holds 2nd Graduate Forum on Researching and Publishing
Faculty of Education Holds 2nd Graduate Forum on Researching and Publishing
July 04, 2024
Contributor: Supriyono | Editor: Dadi Darmadi
In collaboration with the American Institute for Indonesian Studies (AIFIS), the UIII Faculty of Education (FoE) organized the 2nd Graduate Forum with the topic “Researching and Publishing: Keeping Productive Beyond Your Graduate Studies.” The two-day event, held from July 4 to 5, 2024, aimed to encourage early career researchers to participate in scholarly activities, whether through scientific presentations or publications.
“This program is organized by ESTUDIA, our student organization, and I am glad that all students participated to present their research. We also have two distinguished guests from different continents to deliver keynote speeches, to share tips for researching and publishing,” remarked Dr. Bambang Sumintono, Head of the PhD in Education program, in his opening speech.
This year’s Graduate Forum featured two keynote speeches from Professor Nelly van Doorn-Harder, an expert in religious studies from Wake Forest University, North Carolina, USA, and Dr. Lena Larsen, Program Director of the Norwegian Center for Human Rights, University of Oslo. Moderated by Professor Nina Nurmila, Dean of the UIII Faculty of Education, the lectures guided the audience on conducting research ethically and publishing their scientific work in reputable journals.
This is the second time the UIII Faculty of Education has organized the Graduate Forum. In 2023, the faculty held the 1st Graduate Forum with the topic “Education for All. All for Education,” featuring Assoc. Prof. Bonnie Yim, the Associate Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Education at Deakin University, Australia. As a graduate university, UIII is committed to training novice researchers with all the necessary skills required to become competent scholars in the future.
source: https://uiii.ac.id/events/read/57576/foe-holds-2nd-graduate-forum-on-researching-and-publishing
UIII PhD Candidate Presents at Hong Kong International Conference on English Education
UIII PhD Candidate Presents at Hong Kong International Conference on English Education
June 27, 2024
Contributor: Erickson Samson | Editor: Supriyono
Furqanul Hakim, a PhD candidate from the UIII Faculty of Education, presented his research findings at an international conference organized by the Language Centre of Hong Kong Baptist University. Held from June 17 to 18, 2024, the grand theme of the conference was "Engagement in the Digital Age: International Conference on Language Teaching and Learning.”
Hakim's presentation, titled “The Implementation of Parliamentary Debate Format in English Teaching Based on Research Trends in Indonesia,” was based on his study where he systematically reviewed journal articles published in nationally accredited SINTA journals from 2014 to 2024 to identify the trends and methodologies in integrating parliamentary debates into English language teaching.
His research found the increasing adoption of parliamentary debate formats, including Asian, Australasian, and British parliamentary styles, to enhance students' speaking abilities in Indonesian high schools. However, he noticed a need for research exploring the format's impact on other language skills beyond speaking.
"It's such an honor to meet some prominent experts in my field, specifically in language teaching and learning such as Prof. Rod Ellis, Prof. Norbert Pachler, and Prof. Glenn Stockwell," Hakim noted, saying that the feedback he received from his presentation was crucial to generating ideas from his PhD dissertation.
The conference where Hakim presented was a platform for educators and researchers to exchange ideas, share their knowledge, and advance the field of language teaching and learning. It also helps and contributes to future innovations in research methodologies in English Teaching and Learning.
Hakim's participation in this prestigious conference underscores the quality of research at UIII and the university's commitment to academic excellence and global engagement. His work exemplifies the innovative scholarship UIII promotes, contributing to the advancement of language education. The achievements of scholars like Hakim will hopefully continue to shape the future of education and research in Indonesia and beyond.
Congratulations for Receiving Research Grant from Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia
Congratulations to Dr. Destina Wahyu Winartis' team and Assoc. Prof. Charyna Rizkyanti, Ph.D's team who have passed the selection to receive UIII Research Funding 2024. We are proud to hear this news and hope the research can be useful for the knowledge development.
UIII Students Visit DPR RI to Gain Insights on Policymaking
UIII Students Visit DPR RI to Gain Insights on Policymaking
June 10, 2024
Contributor: Intan Fasya Zahara | Editor: Supriyono
UIII, JAKARTA - On June 3, 2024, the third batch of MA in Education students of Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) visited the Indonesian House of Representatives, also known as DPR RI, in Senayan, Jakarta. The visit was part of the field trip agenda within the Educational Policy Analysis course, convened by Dr. Lukman Nul Hakim, a UIII lecturer and a former policy analyst in the parliament office.
Dr. Lukman Nul Hakim explained that the visit was aimed at offering students experience in a realistic understanding of the policy-making process while giving them inspiration for potential career pathways and prospects beyond the classroom's theoretical study.
At the event, the students had an exclusive session with the officials from the Center for Parliamentary Analysis (PUSAKA) which is one of the House of Representatives sections in charge of analysis, assistance, and exposure. This division is known as a medium between society and parliamentarians which greatly contributes to analyzing, assisting, and further exposing the facts and materials crucial for policy-making.
The PUSAKA Chairman, Mr. Achmad Sani Alhusain, enlightened the students about the legislative environment, discussing the history of the policy analysis division and the outcomes of initiatives. These include a simple analysis, weekly issues and a short analysis twice a week.
“Reviewing the process of adopting a law requires 575 parliamentary votes, comprising 51 lawmakers from nine different factions, with each member of the session having three opportunities to express their views,” Mr. Alhusain noted, while highlighting the critical and practical procedure, as well as the challenges, in the policymaking process.
During the session, students actively engaged in a discussion. Santi Ganiswari, from Lombok, inquired about decentralizing education and the need for a gender-related curriculum in Indonesia. In response to the question, PUSAKA Senior researcher Mrs. Sali Susiana explained that the national education law governs these issues. However, the practice has been hampered by challenges, saying that while the government aims for equal access to education, improvements are needed.
Furthermore, Karamo Ceesay, a student from Gambia, asked how policymakers ensure objectivity in their decision-making process, considering that everyone has a political stand. The practitioners explained that the analysts were deemed civil servants and should not express any political stance. The inquiry brought by Ceesay led to a discussion of the ethical considerations of being a policy analyst.
The overall visit was undoubtedly a remarkable experience for the students. “It was a very good trip because it availed us with the opportunity to interact with practitioners in the field of policy analysis and learned from them. Moreover, it also exposed us to the historical information of the Indonesian political evolution and its growth, which alone was splendid," Karamo Ceesay said.
Supporting the statement, Nasrullah, from Sulawesi, expressed his gratitude for the experience. "In the past, I could only see this building from the television, and now I am able to see it directly. This visit makes me understand the policymaking process and its considerations through a thorough explanation," he testified.
The trip concluded by touring inside the DPR RI buildings, visiting the museum displaying historical records, observing the plenary meeting room, and taking a class photo. Dr. Lukman Nul Hakim ended the trip by encouraging the students to gain inspiration from the trip, highlighting that the daily assignments that they have in the Educational Policy Analysis course, such as reflections, policy papers, or briefs, can prepare them to be competent policy analysts in the future.
source: https://www.uiii.ac.id/student/read/57550/uiii-students-visit-dpr-ri-to-gain-insights-on-policymaking
Flourishing and Well-being: Prof. Lindsay Oades’ Keynote Speech at FoE Conference
Flourishing and Well-being: Prof. Lindsay Oades’ Keynote Speech at FoE Conference
June 03, 2024
Contributor: Supriyono
UIII, DEPOK – The 3rd Annual Conference of the Faculty of Education (FoE) at the Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) featured a keynote speech by Professor Lindsay G. Oades from the University of Melbourne, Australia, with the topic “Flourishing and Well-being in Education” in which he delved into the integration of well-being and education and how it will help students to flourish their life.
Professor Lindsay G. Oades, PhD, is an internationally renowned well-being scientist, researcher, educator, and author. He serves as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Education and Professor of Wellbeing Science at the University of Melbourne, Australia. Recently, he collaborated with UNESCO on the International Science and Evidence-Based Education Assessment.
Professor Oades began his speech by praising the conference theme, emphasizing its global relevance. “What we’re seeing around the world is society struggling with mental health issues and the health system won’t solve that issue. I strongly believe that a large part of the solution will come through education,” he stated.
He further distinguished mental health from well-being, noting that mental health pertains to the mental state of an individual, while well-being encompasses broader dimensions of human flourishing, citing UNESCO’s aim of education which reads: “Promoting forms of learning and development that equip students to live flourishing lives is the appropriate overall aim of education.”
“In the educational context that could mean academic achievement, ethical goodness, and feeling good while you’re doing it that overall concept of human flourishing sits above a lot of the more specific areas. The key idea here is that this is an appropriate overall aim of education,” he explained.
Professor Oades contrasted this flourishing aim of education with the economic focus of other institutions, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which emphasizes developing human capital as the aim of education. While acknowledging the value of this concept, he noted its lack of ethical considerations.
“Flourishing includes ethics. In this context, that could mean the core ethical tenets of Islam,” he said. “It is a broader thing. Not only the mental health functioning of an individual, but it is the overall experience, which includes education, and economics […] Therefore, I also argue that this is the role of education than it is of a health system. Well-being lives in education. It’s learnable, teachable, doable.”
Central to his discussion, Professor Oades highlighted the need to improve well-being literacy, saying that if we are to embed well-being and flourishing into education, we need literacy as a way of talking about and understanding it.
He mentioned "well-being literacy" as the capability to comprehend and compose well-being language. This capability model includes five components, encompassing well-being vocabulary and knowledge, well-being comprehension (listening, reading, and viewing), well-being composition (speaking, writing, and creating), context awareness (adapting language to context), and intentionality (habit of communicating intentionally for well-being).
“You might ask, why so much emphasis on language? One of the key reasons is that many things are psychological; they live in language. They are largely metaphorical because so many of these things are non-physical, so we use metaphors to make sense of the non-physical,” he explained.
In his conclusion, Professor Oades stressed the importance of language in achieving population well-being and differentiating between well-being and mental health. “If we want to change well-being, let us have a look at the way we use language. Let’s also think about well-being as different than mental health. It is not that one is right and one is wrong; It is that they are two different dimensions,” he concluded.
This year’s theme of the Faculty of Education’s annual conference is “A New Way of Teaching and Learning: Integrating Well-Being in Educational Settings” which emphasizes the integration of well-being into the core aspects of education. The theme resonates with UIII’s mission to provide an inclusive international education that takes care of the well-being of its individuals despite striving for academic excellence aimed at flourishing human life through education.
My Memorable Experience in Performing Indonesian Cultural Dance as a Filipino
My Memorable Experience in Performing Indonesian Cultural Dance as a Filipino
by Erickson Samson (MA in Education student batch 3)
Performing Indonesian cultural dance, especially the "Dindin Badindin" from West Sumatra, is one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done as a Filipino and an international student at UIII. This was something that I will never forget in my life. I am very grateful that I have been part of the cultural dancers and, most especially, the UIII community.
As a person who is not into dancing, nor had I experienced performing in front of a big crowd, I firstly hesitated to accept the invitation of my friends to join them because I was afraid that I could not perform well, which I thought I might have ruined the whole performance because of me. However, I still sincerely grabbed it after believing it was a once-in-a-blue-moon thing. Thus, I had to seize this opportunity because I knew that everything could be learnt by continued practice and everyone's cooperation.
I acknowledge the guidance of my course mates Andi Ilham, Furqanul Hakim, and Ulfia Muru'ah, as well as the continued support of friends and lecturers. Throughout the duration of practice, when everyone was busy with their papers, it was very challenging because we had to spare time to practice, and everyone's presence and cooperation were needed. As a result, our practices went very well, with happy moments and laughter.
Each day of practice and observing my friends, I reflected that I would never forget this moment when I became part of this, with my utmost appreciation and respect. I even learnt how to appreciate and sense the music with all my heart. In the future, I will remember that these are my friends with whom I have shared some of the best memories in my postgraduate journey in Indonesia.
On the first day of the conference, I did not feel nervous during this period at all; I told myself we just needed to enjoy this day and our performance with all smiles. I was elated after the performance, as it was done smoothly, telling myself that all our efforts had paid off, and everyone seemed to enjoy and love it. Also, what I loved was hearing that our dean of the Faculty of Education, Dr. Nina Nurmila, told the visitors that I was not an Indonesian, but a Filipino. Moreover, some were surprised by that kind of thing; my friends and lecturers were happy with that, which I loved most.
At the end of the day, I have learnt that we must enjoy the journey and our process. These help us grow and appreciate the people we are sharing the memories with. These things only happen once in our lives, but the memories that we have shared with our friends may not happen again.
Our cultural performance has made me appreciate Indonesia's culture, attached me to this country, its people, and its language, and encouraged me to act locally as part of cultural understanding and appreciation. This is why I have learnt to love this country.
At UIII, FoE Kick-Offs the 3rd Annual Conference on Well-Being and Education
At UIII, FoE Kick-Offs the 3rd Annual Conference on Well-Being and Education
Contributor: Supriyono | Editor: Dadi Darmadi
UIII, DEPOK – The Faculty of Education (FoE) at the Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) has officially kicked off its 3rd annual conference on Thursday, May 30, 2024, under the theme “A New Way of Teaching and Learning: Integrating Well-Being in Educational Settings” emphasizing the integration of well-being into the core aspects of education.
In her opening speech, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Nina Nurmila, PhD, welcomed the keynote speakers, presenters and audiences, saying that this year’s FoE conference has attracted more paper submissions with better quality papers. She elaborated that in 2022, the conference received 13 papers and selected 6 papers to be presented in the 1st annual education conference. In 2023, the committee received 19 papers and selected 15 papers to be presented. Meanwhile this year, the conference received 46 papers and selected 26 papers for presentation.
“All of these numbers are less than the number of papers we received for the Writing Competition, which reaches 75 papers. Perhaps the awards and money we granted could be the motivating aspects for authors to submit their paper for writing competition. Therefore, beginning last year, we provide similar awards for the best papers submitted for the conference,” Prof. Nina Nurmila remarked.
In terms of the country of origin, Prof. Nurmila explained that her team expanded the origin country of the paper writers from only Indonesia in 2022, to three countries (Indonesia, Malaysia and UK) in 2023, to four countries (Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia and Pakistan) in 2024. “All of these still show that we need to build broader networking to spread our conference to attract more participants from various different countries,” Prof. Nurmila said.
Following the Dean’s speech, Prof. Dr. Jamhari, Rector of UIII, highlighted the importance of the conference theme, saying that it resonates with UIII’s mission of inclusivity and to deliver top-notch postgraduate education, foster innovative research, and contribute to science and social welfare.
“This approach recognizes the importance of addressing students’ emotional intelligence, psychological, and physical well-being throughout their academic development,” Prof. Dr. Jamhari said in his remark.
Meanwhile, Associate Professor Charyna Ayu Rizkyanti, PhD, the organizing committee, explained the reason behind the theme, associating it with the human development theory in which universities are the places for adult learners either those in the early to late adulthood phase. Hence, well-being becomes an integral part of the university environment.
“Inevitably, the increasing focus on well-being, particularly mental health, in the education sector occurs for a crucial reason. Educational institutions must adopt a holistic approach to teaching and learning and integrate well-being into their policies and practices,” Associate Professor Rizkyanti said.
This year’s conference invited three keynote speakers. On the first day, Thursday, May 30th, 2024, K. H. Saiful Rahmat Dasuki, S.IP., M.Si. from the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia discussed how to improve the well-being in education setting through practicing moderate Islam. Additionally, Prof. Lindsay Oades from the University of Melbourne, Australia presented the “Flourishing and Well-being in Education”. On the second day, Friday, May 31st, 2024, Prof. Vina Adriany, PhD from Indonesian Education University (UPI) will discuss “Teachers’ Welfare, Professionalism and Well-being” as the conference’s final keynote speaker.
This is the third time the UIII Faculty of Education has held its annual conference. The first annual education conference in 2022 was under the broad theme of Education and Society concentration; the second annual conference in 2023 was under the theme of Education Policy, Management, and Leadership; and this year’s conference is under the theme of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning. Next year, the faculty will have the fourth annual conference under the theme Educational Assessment and Evaluation.
Recording on YouTube
Day 1 (Opening and Keynote Speaker)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoUISroZdsc
Day 2 (Keynote Speaker)
https://www.youtube.com/live/qRGr1vpP354?si=YyRVaqVn9gGJ3zjF
Day 2 (Closing Ceremony)
https://www.youtube.com/live/WUNafcLo_9c?si=T4xn85OIJobb6yX7