Bandung, UPI
Rector of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesisa (UPI) Prof. Furqon has hosted three deputations of Finland University (FinUni) on Monday (6/2) at Ruang Rapat Tengah (center meeting room) on the 2nd floor of Isola building. Attended by two vice chancellors as well, Prof. Asep Kadarohman (vice chancellor of academic and students affairs) and Prof. Didi Sukyadi (vice chancellor of research, partnerships, and enterprise affairs), this meeting is conducted in regard with preliminary appointment of Teacher Education Review project with all Lembaga Perguruan Tinggi Keguruan/ LPTK (institutions of higher education of teaching) in Indonesia.
The Executive Vice President of FinUni Pasi Kaskinen said that teacher education review will be a part of the revitalization of national education. The report will sum up the findings and recommendation of how revitalization process can be implemented in Indonesia.
Attended by the Head of Office of International Education and Relations (OIER) UPI, Dr. Vanessa Gaffar, this preliminary meeting covered the explanation of the modules of reviewing agenda that will be facilitated by UPI. This modules presentation is aimed to identify and report the development needs and background information and also required materials for reviewing agenda. Dr. Anna Alasuutari, staff of International Office of FinUni was present to arrange the plan and schedule affairs of FinUni.
“Module 1 is targeted to Teach and Teachers Initiative/ TTI (ex-IKIP) universities, focusing on Teacher Education. In one week, the agenda of module 1 is introducing Finland’s education system. In this agenda, the participants that consist of students and education professionals may observe how Finnish teachers are working in practice. This module covers lectures, discussions, workshop, and visits to Faculties of Education, LAB Schools or partner school, and also meeting with teacher education professionals and writing a report under the supervision of the Finnish experts.” said Dr. Minna Makihonko, the Senior Adviser of FinUni.
By agreement, in one day, two selected schools will be targeted for module 1 implementation. As mentioned in the proposal by FinUni, UPI is responsible in arranging the selection of the schools and the bureaucracy affairs in regards with program succession.
An optional workshop and study visit to Finland are also offered by FinUni as cited in module 2. The workshop will be planned as a discussion covering development plan, report writing, and keynote lectures for teacher education professionals (student and faculties of primary school education) in small groups. In the meeting, Kaskinen said that FinUni will open scholarship opportunities for UPI’s faculties and young researchers to continue their study in FinUni.
This Teacher Education Review program is initiated by Finland University. Finland University is an entity that consists of three universities: University of Tampere, University of Turku, and University of Eastern Finland. FinUni is committed to have cooperation with Kementerian Pendidikan Indonesia (ministry of education of Indonesia) and partner universities in teacher and international education collaboration. By this collaboration, hopefully education development in Indonesia will be improved and better. (Nadya, OIER)