SEMARANG, April 17, 2026 – The Psychology Study Program, Faculty of Education and Psychology (FIPP), Semarang State University (UNNES), successfully held a guest lecture entitled “Learning from Life: The Art of Understanding the Development of Special Needs Children.” The event, held in the 3rd Floor Dean’s Hall, marked a significant milestone in strengthening collaboration between academics and practitioners.
The event was officially opened by the Head of the Psychology Study Program, FIPP UNNES, Mrs. Anna Undarwati, S.Psi., M.A., Ph.D. In her remarks, she emphasized that understanding Children with Special Needs (ABK) is a crucial competency for psychology students. She also appreciated the unique synergy of the organizing committee, which jointly managed the event by the Developmental Psychology Lecturer Team and Psychology Students from the Class of 2025.
Presenting a Practitioner’s Perspective
This guest lecture featured expert speakers, Dr. Diah Curie Kharisma, SKM, M.Kes., Technical Policy Analyst from the Central Java Province Health Training Center (Bapelkes). In front of approximately 250 students from the class of 2025, Dr. Diah dissected how developmental theories learned in lectures often encounter different dynamics in real life.
“Theory is a map, but life is the real terrain,” said Dr. Diah. She explained that in special needs children, development often doesn’t proceed linearly. “There are unexpected ‘leaps’ and sometimes stagnation. This is where the art of understanding lies: we must realize that mental age does not always align with chronological age.”
In-Depth Material: From Medical to Psychological
In an interactive presentation session, students were invited to examine material that bridges clinical and psychosocial aspects, including:
CRS Case Study: A discussion of Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS) that provides a concrete illustration of the impact of medical conditions on children’s sensory and cognitive disabilities.
New Paradigm: An invitation to shift from a focus on “weaknesses” to a focus on “potentials and strengths” (Strength-Based Approach).
Family Resilience: Exploring the phenomenon of Parenting Stress and how psychologists must act as supporters for parents, who are the primary therapeutic partners for children.
Cross-Generation Synergy
The success of this event reflects the internal solidarity within the Psychology Department of the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Negeri Semarang (FIPP UNNES). The collaboration between the experience of the Developmental Psychology Lecturer Team and the creativity of the 2025 class of students successfully created a conducive and inspiring learning environment.
A committee representative stated that student involvement in this committee aims to hone managerial soft skills while providing a deeper understanding of the topics they study in the Developmental Psychology course.
The event concluded with a dynamic question-and-answer session, where students critically discussed the real challenges facing aspiring psychologists in addressing the diversity of human development in the future.
