Exploring Inspiration for Early Childhood Education: Benchmarking Visit by PAUD UNNES to PIAUD UIN Sunan Kalijaga

To enhance the quality and distinctive characteristics of its Early Childhood Education (PAUD) program, the Early Childhood Education Study Program at Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) conducted a benchmarking visit to the Early Childhood Islamic Education (PIAUD) program at Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta on November 28, 2024. The visit aimed to draw inspiration from PIAUD UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s flagship programs and unique features.

The benchmarking session began with a discussion on PIAUD UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s flagship programs, which integrate academic excellence, Islamic values, Indonesian identity, and local wisdom into their curriculum. One program that stood out was the Field Study initiative, conducted domestically and internationally. This program allows PIAUD master’s students to practice teaching with undergraduate students. Beyond teaching, participants learn about program management and participate in mini-research projects. The program emphasizes instilling religious values in every aspect of learning while maintaining relevance to global knowledge.

This activity broadened perspectives and fostered stronger collaboration between UNNES and UIN Sunan Kalijaga. Both parties agreed to collaborate on publications, joint research, and competency development initiatives to advance Early Childhood Education in Indonesia.