SEMARANG, April 17, 2026 – The Psychology Study Program, Faculty of Education and Psychology (FIPP) UNNES, successfully held a guest lecture entitled “Learning from Life: The Art of Understanding the Development of Children with Special Needs.” The event, held on the 3rd Floor of the Dean’s Hall, served as a crucial catalyst in strengthening collaboration between academics and practitioners in line with SDGs 4 (quality education) and 17 (partnership for the goals).
The event was officially opened by the Head of the Psychology Study Program, FIPP UNNES, Anna Undarwati, S.Psi., M.A., Ph.D. In her remarks, she emphasized that understanding Children with Special Needs is a crucial competency for psychology students. He also appreciated the unique synergy of the organizing committee, which was jointly managed by the Developmental Psychology Lecturer Team and Psychology Students from the Class of 2025.
Presenting a Practitioner’s Perspective
This guest lecture featured expert speaker Dr. Diah Curie Kharisma, SKM, M.Kes., a Technical Policy Analyst from the Central Java Provincial Health Training Center (Bapelkes). Addressing approximately 250 students from the Class of 2025, Dr. Diah explored 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 children with special needs, development often does not progress linearly. “There are unexpected ‘jumps,’ and sometimes stagnation. This is where the art of understanding lies: we must recognize that mental age does not always align with chronological age.”
In-Depth Material: From Medical to Psychological
In interactive presentation sessions, students were invited to examine material that bridged clinical and psychosocial aspects, including:
- CRS Case Study: A discussion of Congenital Rubella Syndrome (CRS), providing a concrete illustration of the impact of medical conditions on children’s sensory and cognitive impairments.
- New Paradigm: An invitation to shift from a focus on “deficiencies” to a focus on “potential 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 FIPP UNNES. The collaboration between the Developmental Psychology Lecturer Team’s experience and the 2025 students’ creativity successfully created a conducive and inspiring learning environment.
A committee representative stated that the students’ involvement in this committee aimed to hone their managerial soft skills and deepen their understanding of the topics they were studying in the Developmental Psychology course.
The event concluded with a dynamic question-and-answer session, during which students critically discussed the real-world challenges aspiring psychologists will face in addressing the diversity of human development in the future.
