UNS – The International Office of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta held an international webinar entitled “The Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Higher Education” on Wednesday (13/5/2020). The online event was attended by more than 300 participants from all over Indonesia, and abroad, such as Vietnam, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Malaysia. Four speakers were invited to the event, Mr. Johnson Ong Chee Bin an education expert from AUN-QA, Mr. Chris Strod (QS Market Research and Data Manager), Prof. Arifin Angriawan from Purdue University Northwest USA, and Prof. Sajidan, the Vice-Rector for Partnership and Planning Affairs UNS.
The event was opened by the Rector of UNS, Prof. Jamal Wiwoho who stated that the international seminar is dedicated as a forum to discuss the impact of CVOID-19 on the practices in higher education, in the future, and the sustainability of the higher education.
“The COVID-19 pandemic made us stay at home. On this occasion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic will be discussed,” Prof. Jamal stated.
Further, Prof. Jamal explained that this event is a form of UNS commitment in contributing to advancing the education, not limited to the national level, but also on the broader spectrum at the regional and international level. On the occasion, Mr. Johnson as the first speaker conveyed comprehensively on the learning process at the higher education which is redirected to the online learning due to Covid-19, this, he considers as “the new normal”. In this situation, things that are considered as not normal becomes rational and can be accepted by the community.
“The current condition is ‘the new normal’ in which there is a set of beliefs between each school and teacher that influences what and how students are taught a material, this represents an answer to the question about the goals of the school, the role of a teacher, and what should be taught as well as what methods are used,” Mr. Johnson explained.
From the educator’s point of view, Prof. Arifin Angriawan shared views and experience on the online learning model and flipped learning that he implemented when teaching at the MBA and undergraduate program at Purdue University Northwest. Online learning requires effectiveness and efficiency. A course plan is needed to be formulated beforehand.
“We need to make learning plan when implementing online learning,” Prof. Arifin stated.
Next, Mr. Chris Strod conveyed the result of QS survey on the global university response in facing the COVID-19 pandemic, especially concerning the changes in the learning model. Further, Chris also explained the implication of Covid-19 on the potency to reduce prospective international students’ interest.
The last speaker of the webinar was Prof. Sajidan who delivered UNS responses and policies in facing the pandemic in the academic, budgeting, and provision of aids to the students. Besides that, Prof. Sajidan also explained the role of UNS in handling the pandemic, for example, the role of UNS Hospital as a referral hospital and various innovation in handling COVID-19 such as the production of face shield and ventilator. Humas UNS/Zalfaa