Kuala Lumpur, June 10, 2026 – Students of the Master’s Program in Science Education at Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) carried out an academic visit to Universiti Malaya (UM), Malaysia, as part of the International Students Mobility program. This activity aimed to broaden students’ perspectives on higher education systems, research development, and academic culture at one of the leading universities in Southeast Asia.
The activity began with a welcoming session and an introduction to the Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya, delivered by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hidayah Mohd Fadzil as the Head of the Department of Science Education. In her presentation, she explained the department’s profile, areas of study, academic and research activities, and various programs that support the development of science and mathematics education at Universiti Malaya.
UNNES Master’s students in Science Education attended an academic introduction session at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia.
Through this session, students gained an overview of the role of the Department of Science Education in producing learning innovations, curriculum development, and research that contributes to improving the quality of education. Students were also introduced to various opportunities for academic and research collaboration between students and lecturers from both institutions.
The activity then continued with a presentation on the education system in Malaysia delivered by Dr. Hafiz Idrus, a lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and Science Education. He explained the structure of education in Malaysia, national education policies, curriculum development, and various efforts made to improve the quality of learning and the global competitiveness of graduates. This session provided comparative insights that were beneficial for students in understanding educational developments in the Southeast Asian region.
UNNES Master’s students in Science Education participated in UM iFEST at Universiti Malaya.
On the same occasion, the UNNES lecturer delegation also had the opportunity to present their research findings to the academic community of Universiti Malaya. Prof. Dr. Isti Hidayah, M.Pd. presented research on the development of digital manipulatives to support more interactive and meaningful mathematics learning. Prof. Dr. Ani Rusilowati, M.Pd. presented the development and implementation of digital-based learning evaluation to support effective and adaptive assessment processes.
Furthermore, Arif Widiyatmoko, Ph.D. presented an innovation in Augmented Reality-based digital science learning media designed to improve the visualization of science concepts and student engagement in learning. Ridho Adi Negoro, S.Pd., M.Pd. also introduced the development of Scratch-based physics learning media that uses visual programming to help students understand physics concepts in a more engaging and applicable way. This session served as a platform for sharing academic experiences and research outcomes while opening opportunities for research collaboration between UNNES and Universiti Malaya in the fields of science education, mathematics, and learning technology.
UNNES Master’s students in Science Education during the International Students Mobility program at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia.
After the academic sessions, the delegation joined a campus tour to gain a closer understanding of Universiti Malaya as one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Malaysia. The visit then continued to UM iFEST, or the Universiti Malaya Innovation Festival, an event showcasing various innovations, research outputs, and developments from students and academics at Universiti Malaya.
During UM iFEST, the UNNES Master’s students in Science Education observed various academic and innovation activities, including the Undergraduate Final Year Project Presentation Competition, which featured final project presentations by undergraduate students from various disciplines. The students also visited the 2nd International Transdisciplinary Research Conference (INTRAC 2026), the Universiti Malaya Research, Innovation & Industry Summit (UMRIIS 2026), and the UMStepUP 2026 Career Program.
UNNES Master’s students in Science Education with the academic community of the Department of Mathematics and Science Education, Faculty of Education, Universiti Malaya.
Through this academic visit, UNNES Master’s students in Science Education gained international experience that enriched their understanding of education, research, innovation, and career development in a global higher education environment. This International Students Mobility activity is expected to strengthen students’ academic competence, expand international networks, and encourage closer collaboration between UNNES and Universiti Malaya in the future.
