The Guidance and Counseling Study Program of the Faculty of Education and Psychology held the 3rd Annual Guidance and Counseling Academic Forum International Seminar at the FIPP Deanery on the 3rd floor on Saturday (3/8/2024) with the theme “Strengthening Mental Health Through Cultivating Positive Relationship” as the highlight of the 59th Anniversary. The international seminar was held offline, and the companion event was the Guidance and Counseling Smart Competition (GCSC) and Semarang State University Inspiring Competition (UNIC).
Dr. Uswatun Hasanah S.Pd., M.Pd. as the Head of the Central Java Provincial Education and Culture Office as the keynote speaker gave the view that adolescents as a vulnerable group who spend more time in the school environment need to get guidance on the importance of preventing mental health problems. It is very important for guidance and counseling teachers to be involved as good friends for adolescents, so that they are able to detect and make preventive efforts with health professionals for mental health problems in schools. This international seminar presented speakers from Malaysia, namely Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azmawaty Mohamad Nur as Deputy Dean (Undergraduate), Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya who emphasized how counselors use a positive perspective on problems and how one can use a positive self-concept.
Dr. Siti Nubailah M. Yusof, Senior Lecturer of Counseling Program at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, shared her views on how to involve parents in creating career selection strategies for their children, such as providing skills. “With that expertise, other opportunities will be seen,” she said. Another speaker from the Health Center of Semarang State University, dr. Reni Pawestuti Ambarani Sumanto M.K.M., had thoughts related to promotion and prevention before health problems occur.
Next, the event continued with student performances from the student community of the Guidance and Counseling Study Program at the undergraduate level of B’coustic and closed with panel presentations by the participants of the national seminar online and offline.
