UNS — Japanese Study Center (PSJ) Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta in collaboration with Perhimpunan Pelajar Indonesia (PPI) Japan, Persada Solo, and International Association of Indonesian Scientists (I4) held a research webinar. This webinar discussed education readiness amid the Covid-19 pandemic and the case study between Japan and Indonesia with the experts.
The webinar on Saturday (19/2/2022) invited three speakers, David Virya Chen, Ph.D., a specially appointed researcher in Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University; Asst. Prof. Miftakhul Huda, Assistant Professor di Nagoya University; and Murni Ramli, M.Si., Ed.D.; Faculty Member of Biology Education UNS. The opening remark was delivered by Prof. Yusli Wardianto, the Educational and Cultural Attache of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) Tokyo, and Prof. Sajidan, the Vice-Rector for Planning, Partnership, Business, and Information Affairs UNS.
In his opening remark, Chairman of PSJ UNS, Dr. Eng. Kusumaningdyah Nurul Handayani hoped that the webinar could benefit all participants. “We hoped that the partnership agenda prepared with PPI Japan could be implemented in the future,” Dr. Eng. Kusumaningdyah stated.
Prof. Sajidan also appreciated the collaboration and hoped that students in Japan could contribute to the nation’s development, although they are far away from Indonesia. “I am happy with the spirits of PPI Japan hopefully, after you graduate, you can come back to build Indonesia to be in the same level as Japan,” Prof. Sajidan stated. Prof. Yusli Wardianto supported Prof. Sajidan and stated that although they are abroad, it is expected that they will contribute to the nation. “I hoped we could take a synthesis from the speakers,” he stated.
The first speaker, David Virya Chen, Ph.D., discussed Covid-19 and the role of the vaccine. He compared the immune system and kitchen in the sense that the immune system is like kitchen components that are only included when we open their containers. He also emphasized the importance of vaccine distribution before the booster program. The second speaker, Asst. Prof. Miftakhul Huda shared material on an education program in Japan during the pandemic situation. He stated that not all schools in Japan were ready when the government applied Covid-19 emergency. The condition led to non-intensive materials provided by teachers, with some of them only providing their students with pdf or video materials. “Only around 9% uses two-way media like Zoom,” he stated.
The last material from Murni Ramli, M.Si., Ed.D., discussed the readiness and importance of face-to-face learning amid the pandemic in Indonesia. She stated that during the pandemic, the learning activities remain under control under curriculum, actors, or facilitators in the teaching and learning process. The only difference was that the teacher’s portion was reduced, and the parents and online portion increased. “Teachers use diverse online learning platforms from group chat with parents to a complex learning management system,” she explained. She added that according to the Kemdikbudristek survey, only 46% of Indonesian teachers are ready with information technology skills, resulting in technology cluelessness. Some students also don’t have good internet access and appropriate tools to access the internet. Humas UNS
Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti