To expand the scope of international education and enrich the student experience, the Early Childhood Education Study Program (PGAUD) Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) sends two students to Trnava University, Slovakia. This departure is supported by the Erasmus+ program, the EU’s flagship initiative to improve the mobility of students and education staff worldwide.
The two students are Ishla Riezki Nuswantara and Niken Dwi Widyastuti. For the next four months, the two will participate in academic activities in Trnava, often called Slovakia’s Little Rome.
Ishla and Niken passed the selection towards the end of 2023. “I can’t wait to see and learn about Art Therapy used in Early Childhood Education in Slovakia,” said Ishla who has done curriculum research owned by Early Childhood Education in Slovakia and Trnava University.
“I’m curious why Slovakia considers leisure time important for young people,” Niken added.
The Rector, Prof. S Martono, advised the two students to use this mobility opportunity best. “I let you go for a happy return in the future. I would be grateful if you would take this opportunity to explore further studies in Europe. One more thing, you don’t lose Indonesian sense of pride,” he said, accompanied by Vice Rector IV and Dean of FIPP at the Rectorate Building (02/26).
Likewise, The Dean Prof. Edy Purwanto warmly welcomed this mobility. “Mobility allows us to learn from others. It enriches us, but at the same time makes us humble,” he said.
The Head of the Early Childhood Education Study Program, Ali Formen, said this mobility program resulted from long collective works. Since 2018, the Study Program has collaborated with partners from Slovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria with the support of Erasmus +. Apart from the two students, two of PGPAUD academics, Dr. Diana and Rina Windiarti, MEd, will follow Trnava in the future as visiting scholars in mid-2024.
