The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), recently hosted an academic visit by Associate Professor Dr. Norma Alias from the Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The visit, held from 12 to 16 May 2025, marked a significant milestone in strengthening academic cooperation between the two institutions, particularly in the fields of mathematics and computer science.
During her five-day visit, Dr. Norma Alias engaged in a series of academic and community service activities involving lecturers, students, and educators within UNNES as well as external partners. The visit formed part of the Visiting Lecturer Program, aimed at advancing collaborative academic initiatives and public engagement.
One of the initial activities was a community service program in the form of a Scientific Talk at SMIT Bina Amal, Semarang. Together with Dr. Tri Sri Noor Asih (FMIPA UNNES), Dr. Norma Alias shared insights on how secondary school students can adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) responsibly. The session aimed to promote ethical and purposeful AI literacy among younger learners.
In addition, a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was held to explore the development of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), with a focus on improving access to quality digital education. Drawing on her extensive experience, Dr. Norma Alias provided valuable recommendations on structuring MOOCs that address contemporary educational needs.
As part of academic enrichment efforts, Dr. Alias also delivered guest lectures in two courses: Numerical Methods and Statistical Computation. Her sessions presented international perspectives on the application of computational methods in numerical analysis and statistics. The lecture on Numerical Methods was titled “Numerical Methods in Artificial Intelligence: Foundation and Application”, while the session on Statistical Computation was themed “Statistical Computation in Artificial Intelligence: Principles, Methods, and Applications.”
To further foster scholarly collaboration, FMIPA UNNES and UTM held a book chapter development workshop, encouraging joint academic publications between both institutions. The visit concluded with an FGD on the integration of AI in research and teaching, generating innovative ideas for future educational and scientific initiatives.
This academic visit is expected to serve as a catalyst for broader collaboration in education, research, and community service between UNNES and UTM. Through sustained knowledge exchange and academic synergy, both institutions aim to enhance their global competitiveness and academic excellence.
Source: https://unnes.ac.id/unnes-and-utm-strengthen-academic-collaboration-in-mathematics/
