The research team from Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) conducted a visiting program and guest lecture at the Faculty of Education, Monash University, Australia. The program was carried out on October 7, 2025, in Clayton, Melbourne, as part of a strategic effort to strengthen international research collaboration and develop evidence-based policies in the domains of sense of belonging and student well-being in higher education.
The UNNES delegation comprised Prof. Dr. Edy Purwanto, M.Si., Ali Formen, S.Pd., M.Ed., Ph.D., Rahmawati Prihastuty, S.Psi., M.Si., Yuli Kurniawati Sugiyo Pranoto, S.Psi., M.A., D.Sc., and Achmad Miftachul ’Ilmi, S.Pd., M.Pd. The team received a warm welcome from Associate Professor Kelly-Ann Allen, Ph.D., Professor Mary Ryan, Ph.D. (Dean of the Faculty of Education, Monash University), and Professor Lindsay Oades, Ph.D. (Deputy Dean and Professor of Wellbeing Science, University of Melbourne), who also joined as a partner in well-being science. During the engagement, the experts emphasized that student well-being is not only central to academic achievement but also a fundamental pillar in advancing broader sustainable development goals.
The program opened with a welcoming address by Assoc. Prof. Kelly-Ann Allen at the Learning & Teaching Building, Monash Clayton Campus, followed by a guest lecture delivered by Prof. Dr. Edy Purwanto in Room 1-142. Attended by Master’s and Ph.D. students, the lecture explored “Evidence-Based Policy Recommendations to Improve Students’ Sense of Belonging and Well-Being.”
Prof. Purwanto presented findings from collaborative studies across Indonesian teacher education institutions, underscoring that belongingness and well-being form the foundation of motivation, resilience, and academic success. He highlighted the critical need for data-driven institutional policies, strengthened psychological support within faculties, and the development of inclusive, mentally healthy academic environments.
Subsequently, the UNNES research team held a strategic meeting with Professor Mary Ryan and Professor Lindsay Oades at the Dean’s Office, Faculty of Education, Monash University. Discussions centered on future research collaborations involving UNNES, Monash University, and the University of Melbourne, including the development of policy briefs for Indonesian higher education, the design of policy models to strengthen students’ sense of belonging, and prospects for academic exchange and joint publications. The visit concluded with a campus tour through Monash University’s Walk of Fame and Central Green.
During the event, Prof. Dr. Edy Purwanto emphasized that this collaboration reflects UNNES’s strong commitment to advancing higher education policies grounded in student well-being.
“We believe that students’ well-being and their sense of belonging to the university are foundational to academic success. This collaborative research represents a concrete step toward building a more humane and sustainable higher education ecosystem,” he stated.
Associate Professor Kelly-Ann Allen also underscored the value of cross-country collaboration in addressing global challenges related to student well-being.
“The UNNES team brings a rich, contextual perspective from Indonesia. Together, we can develop policies and practices that enhance student well-being globally,” she noted.
This visiting program and guest lecture serve as a concrete milestone in UNNES’s commitment to strengthening its international reputation and advancing conservation-minded, evidence-based policy initiatives that foster an inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable global academic culture.