Bandar Seri Begawan, Thursday, July 17, 2025 – To strengthen international collaboration in education and research, a Matching Grant research team from Semarang State University (UNNES), led by Dr. Ellianawati, M.Sc., and team member Dr. Bambang Subali, M.Pd., conducted an academic visit to the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). The visit was warmly welcomed by the SHBIE leadership, namely Dr. Hjh Hardimah Binti Haji Mohd Said (Dean), Dr. Roslinawati Binti Mohd Roslan (Deputy Dean for Research), and Dr. Marlizayati Binti Johari (Program Leader for School Partnership). One of the main agenda items was the benchmarking of the UNNES Physics Education Study Program curriculum, which was presented comprehensively and systematically by the UNNES team.
On this occasion, the UNNES team also introduced the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) UNNES, including its profile, vision, and development direction. The explanation covered FMIPA UNNES’s academic and research strengths, its active role in international collaboration, and its commitment to producing globally competitive graduates with a conservation mindset and a focus on developing science and education based on local values. This initiative reflects the spirit of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on Quality Education, which emphasizes improving education quality and preparing graduates with competencies relevant to global challenges.
The SHBIE leadership expressed their appreciation for the detailed and structured presentation of the curriculum and institutional profile. They assessed that the graduate profile of the UNNES Physics Education Study Program has been prepared with a visionary approach, not only producing prospective high school physics teachers but also opening up career opportunities as educational researchers, lecturers, educational laboratory practitioners, and even educational entrepreneurs. The discussion also highlighted the importance of certification in educational laboratory management skills, particularly for the secondary and tertiary levels. Furthermore, the digital edupreneur profile developed by UNNES was seen as a form of adaptation to the digital era, providing innovative space for the younger generation to create learning content through various digital platforms.
Furthermore, the two institutions explored broader collaboration opportunities, such as guest lectures, keynote speakers, external examiners, and role exchanges in various international scientific forums. They also agreed to expand the scope of the international seminar, previously initiated jointly by UiTM and UNNES, with more varied themes and levels. The event concluded with the signing of an Implementation Agreement (IA) as a concrete manifestation of future cooperation, and the exchange of souvenirs as a symbol of the academic friendship that has begun and will continue. This form of collaboration is also aligned with SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals, highlighting the importance of international cooperation in strengthening education, research, and community service to achieve shared global objectives.
