Curriculum change is challenging for teachers, not least for ECE (Early Childhood Education) teachers. To face this challenge, the ECE postgraduate studies of Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) held a joint research expose at the Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) on November 29, 2023.
The joint research is based on the commitment of both countries to mobilize ECE services that are increasingly integrated and jointly develop ECE postgraduate studies.
The student research team, consisting of Nilamsari Putri and Faiz Ridwan, presented research on the contribution of self-regulation and work motivation to teachers’ readiness to face curriculum changes.
In the expose, the Head of SUSS’s ECE Magister program highlighted Singapore’s increasingly integrated ECE sector. Meanwhile, the delegation of UNNES Magister in ECE, Ali Formen and Edi Waluyo, explained the landscape of ECE and postgraduate studies in Indonesia.
This expose is part of the 2023 Magister of ECE Asian Study Tour. The delegation consisted of 50 students and three chaperones. They also visited five ECE centers that SUSS recommends.
“The hope is students, who are also ECE educators, can see firsthand the good practices of Singapore ECE that they have read in various journals,” explained Ali Formen.
“During this time, we learned about Singapore ECE from the journal. Here we see it in real practice,” said Che Nur, who visited Little Skool House at the Republic Polytechnic.
On this occasion, students also develop new networks of their academic and professional friendships. In addition to lecturers and staff, SUSS also presents students and alums.
“We like to be divided into several roundtable groups. I talked a lot with Ms. Aida earlier, and we promise to do something together in the future,” Putri said optimistically.
The expose was concluded by signing off an initial understanding document between the two master program leaders. The hope is that initial understanding can encourage the exchange of knowledge , staffs, and students between the two study programs.
