Semarang. Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha (Undiksha), Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), and Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) are building international collaboration with Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea, by creating a consortium called the Leading University Project for International Cooperation (LUPIC). The person responsible for each university is Prof. Dr. H. Asep Kadarohman, M.Si. (UPI), Cepi Kurniawan, S.Si., M.Sc., Ph.D. (UNNES), Prof. I Wayan Muderawan, Ph.D. (Undiksha), and Prof. Won Koo Lee (Sogang University). The collaboration aimed at improving the quality of science education, especially chemistry education, in Indonesia starting in 2023. By the MoU, the LUPIC collaboration program includes: (1) increasing the capacity of chemistry education, (2) developing STEM-related education programs, (3) a science teacher training program, and (4) regional networking and social contribution program.
The first meeting was held at the Indonesian University of Education on 26-28 June 2023 to form a consortium and discuss and formulate programs and activities to be carried out in the first year. In the first year, of 2023, several activities related to the agreed cooperation program have been carried out. In the first year, Undiksha carried out activities including (1) implementing IConMNS in 2023, (2) implementing blended learning for 2 courses, Basic Chemistry, and Research Methodology, which was attended by Undiksha chemistry education students (offline) and UPI chemistry education students and UNNES (online), (3) procurement of 20 sets of Small Scale Chemistry (SSC) Kits for small and micro-scale chemistry practicums along with hotplates and stands, (4) production of small and micro scale organic chemistry practicum manuals, (5) procurement mebular for the Integrated Laboratory at FMIPA, and (6) forming a MGMP network for Eastern Indonesia (Bali, NTB and NTT). For monitoring and evaluation of first-year activities, the LUPIC consortium carried out the 1st Year Annual Meeting in Semarang, coordinated and held by UNNES on 22-23 February 2024, and packaged in the form of seminars and workshops.
On day 1, a workshop was held on methods to evaluate science teacher’s competency in scientific knowledge and teaching skills with resource persons: (1) Prof. Jae Young Han from the Department of Chemistry Education, Chungbuk National University, South Korea with the topic “The In-service Teacher Training System to Develop Teachers professionalism in Korea”, (2) Dr. Harjono (UNNES), Dr. Tuszie Widhiyanti, M.Pd. (UPI), Prof. Dr. I Gusti Lanang Wiratma, M.Sc. (Undiksha), and Dra. Wiwik Indah K. (Chemistry Teacher at SMAN 9 Semarang) with the topic “Case study and Discussion of Teachers Competence Evaluation”. After that, it continued with a report and evaluation of LUPIC activities for the first year. Activity reports were submitted by each university representative, for Undiksha it was submitted by Prof. I Wayan Muderawan, Ph.D., UNNES by Dr. Cepi Kurniawan, M.Sc., and UPI by Dr. Triannisa Rahmawati, M.Si. Meanwhile, the evaluation of program achievements was delivered by Prof. Won Koon Lee and Dr. Sunny Lee from Sogang University. Program achievement for Undiksha is very low, namely (i) seen from the activities carried out it is 55.5% and (ii) seen from the budget used it is 53.3%.
On day 2, the following activities were held: (1) Seminar on Recent Trends in Chemistry and Chemistry Education Research with two speakers (a) Prof. Kwang Hwang Jun (Sogang University) with the topic Trends in Sciences Research and (b) Prof. Dae Hong Jeong (Seoul National University) with the topic Trends in Science/Chemistry Education Research, delivered by Prof. Won Koo Lee (Sogang University); (2) workshop on teaching methods Innovation with three speakers, namely: Prof. Sri Haryani (UNNES), Prof. Dr. Liliasari (UPI), Prof. Dr. Ida Bagus Nyoman Sudria, M.Sc. (Undiksha).
At this meeting, apart from discussing the progress and evaluation of activities carried out by each university in the first year, an Implementation Agreement (IA) was also signed for all activities and discussions on second-year activities which will be carried out starting in April 2024.
Seeing the large number of activities that will be carried out compared to the first year, leaders (Department, Faculty, and Rectorate levels) must pay special attention, both moral support, matching funds and policies, to this collaboration so that achievements can be better than in the first year. Chemistry Department lecturers are asked for their involvement, participation, and cooperation in various activities that will be carried out. Apart from the activities mentioned above, Sogang University also asked Undiksha to become a local co-host for the “International Conference on Appropriate Technology” which will be held in October 2024, in Denpasar, Bali. Hopefully, Undiksha academics can contribute as speakers and participants in this international conference. (fmipa)
