Semarang – The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) of Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) received a visit from Prof. Vincent Geiger of the Australian Catholic University (ACU), Australia, in the context of implementing the STEMTRAILS international collaborative research funded through the KEMENDIKDASMEN-KONEKSI (Australia–Indonesia Knowledge Partnership Platform) program. This Visiting Professor activity took place in the Meeting Room on the 2nd Floor of Building D12, FMIPA UNNES.
The arrival of Prof. Vincent Geiger was directly welcomed by the Dean of FMIPA UNNES, Prof. Dr. Edy Cahyono, M.Si., along with the faculty leadership ranks. This meeting serves as part of the effort to strengthen the synergy between UNNES and ACU in conducting research, while also opening a space for discussion and knowledge exchange regarding the development of STEM-based learning innovations.
The STEMTRAILS research is part of a project entitled “Code, Count, Connect: Enhancing Inclusive Numeracy through AI- and Coding-integrated STEM Trails in Indonesia”. This research aims to develop a STEM Trails learning model that integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI), coding, and STEM approaches to support the improvement of elementary school students’ numeracy skills inclusively.
This research project is led by Dr. rer. nat. Adi Nur Cahyono, M.Pd. from UNNES and involves a collaborative consortium consisting of several institutions, namely UNNES, Australian Catholic University, Universitas Mulawarman, Universitas Pattimura, the Indonesian Mathematics Educators Society (I-MES), and the Indonesian Numeracy Activist Community (KPNI). Through this cross-institutional and cross-country collaboration, the STEMTRAILS research is expected to produce learning innovations that are adaptive, inclusive, and relevant to educational needs in Indonesia.
The Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs (WD 1) of FMIPA UNNES, Zaenal Abidin, S.Si., M.Cs., Ph.D., expressed his hope that the research collaboration with the Australian Catholic University can continue to grow and be sustainable.
“Through this STEMTRAILS research collaboration, we hope that the partnership between FMIPA UNNES and the Australian Catholic University will not only contribute during the implementation of the research program, but can also continue in the coming years. We want this collaboration to expand into various other academic opportunities, such as joint research, international scientific publications, knowledge exchange, and the development of learning innovations. Thus, the partnership that has been built can provide a broader impact, both for institutional development and the improvement of the quality of education and research,” stated Zaenal Abidin.
The presence of Prof. Vincent Geiger as a Visiting Professor is expected to strengthen the exchange of knowledge and academic experience between the two institutions. Furthermore, the involvement of international scholars in this research presents an opportunity to broaden perspectives on the development of mathematics and STEM education through cross-border research collaboration.
Through the STEMTRAILS research, FMIPA UNNES continues to encourage the strengthening of international collaborations in producing impactful educational innovations. The partnership with the Australian Catholic University through the support of the KONEKSI program is expected not only to yield research outputs but also to make a tangible contribution to the development of inclusive and quality numeracy learning in Indonesia.
