Semarang, October 9, 2025 — A warm and enthusiastic atmosphere enveloped the Guest Lecture event organized by the Science Education Study Program and the Physics Education Study Program, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Semarang State University (UNNES), in collaboration with the Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Cawangan, Selangor, Malaysia.
The event took place on Thursday, October 9, 2025, and was enthusiastically attended by Science Education and Physics Education students occupying Smart Classrooms D4.127 (LUPIC) and D3.116. This event was part of the 2025 Foreign Matching Grant program, funded by the UNNES Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), with Dr. Ellianawati, M.Si. as chair and Dr. Bambang Subali, M.Si. as a member.
Before the main session began, the event began with a group angklung performance led by Mr. Slamet Haryono and a team from the Faculty of Languages and Arts (FBS) at UNNES. The guests from UiTM appeared very excited about this new experience. Several songs were played enthusiastically, creating a warm and joyful atmosphere. Interestingly, almost all of the new students were playing angklung for the first time, yet they were able to follow the rhythm well—demonstrating a collaborative spirit and a strong desire to learn.
Following the lively opening, the Guest Lecture session was divided into two parallel sessions in two different rooms. In Room D4.127 (LUPIC), Science Education students participated in a session with Prof. Dr. Sharipah Ruzaina Syed Aris and Mdm. Zulinda Ayu Zulkipli. Prof. Sharipah presented “Learning by Doing, Giving by Serving: Bridging Experiential and Community-Based Learning,” emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience in student learning and social engagement. Meanwhile, Mdm. Zulinda presented the topic “STEM with Purpose: Creating Social Impact through Innovation,” encouraging students to develop innovations oriented toward solutions and social benefits.
Meanwhile, in Room D3.116, Physics Education students studied with Dr. Al ‘Aina Yuhainis Firus Khan and Mdm. Norezan Ibrahim. Dr. Al ‘Aina discussed the theme “Strengthening Laboratory Safety and Sustainability in Science Teacher Education: Bridging Knowledge, Practice, and Innovation,” which highlighted the importance of safety and sustainability in science education laboratories. Mdm. Norezan concluded the session with the topic “Think Smart, Solve Smart: Skills for Today & Tomorrow,” which encouraged students to think critically, adaptively, and find solutions to face future challenges.
According to Dr. Ellianawati, M.Sc., the head of the matching grant, this activity served not only as an academic forum but also as a means to strengthen international collaborative networks. “This guest lecture is a concrete example of academic collaboration between UNNES and UiTM. Through this activity, students gain global inspiration and cross-cultural learning experiences that enrich their perspectives on science learning,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Bambang Subali, M.Sc., added that this activity is a valuable experience for student science teachers. “The speakers demonstrate how science, technology, and creativity can be used to build character and social awareness in students,” he explained.
Through this activity, students gain meaningful academic experience while strengthening their international perspective in science education. This guest lecture also represents a concrete step in strengthening the academic relationship between UNNES and UiTM and supporting UNNES’s vision as an internationally renowned conservation university.
