Pharmacy UGM – With the rapid advancement in science and technology during the globalization era, we are required to be able to compete with people from around the world. These days, international class/program is one of the excellent strategies for preparing students with global competence including language and communication skills, in addition to core knowledge and skills specific to the major of study. Not only does this international program improve the recognition of the host institution, but this program also highly encourages the exchange of information, increased student and staff mobility, and supports the capacity building of human resources within the institution. Faculty of Pharmacy UGM will officially begin the International Undergraduate Program (IUP) this Fall 2021 and is currently working on student admission.
To help prepare our faculty members for the IUP program, the Vice Dean for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr.rer.nat. apt. Triana Hertiani, M.Si., had initiated English Morning Discussion (EMD) in October 2020. EMD is a monthly, internal event organized for faculty members where participants get the chance to discuss with competent speakers in English and Pedagogy and receive constructive feedback on their teaching methods. On June 30, 2021, we held our 8th EMD open for the public for the first time, as a part of the Independent Campus-Freedom to Learn (Merdeka Belajar- Kampus Merdeka) program. We invited Dr. Willy A. Renandya from the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore to share with us how we can humanize blended learning, especially during this pandemic where classes must be administered online. The event was attended by around 300 participants from various institutions in Indonesia and neighboring countries such as Malaysia. Also joining the discussion, Dr. agr. Ir. Sri Peni Wastutiningsih, the Director of Education and Learning UGM.
The EMD was officially opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Dr. apt. Agung Endro Nugroho, M.Si. who sent a warm welcoming speech, followed by a talk by Dr. Renandya and a discussion session facilitated by Dr. apt. Eka Noviana, M.Sc. as a moderator. Dr. Renandya explained that the best way to humanize learning is by implementing student-centered learning in which students are placed as the focus of the learning activity and being actively involved throughout the process. Dr. Renandya also introduced the 6T’s of Motivation: Teacher, Teaching Method, Text, Task, Test, and Technology as an excellent method for improving teaching quality and motivate the students to actively engage in the learning activity. He also cited the relevance of the “Kampus Merdeka” program with “genius hours” that are often implemented in classroom settings in which students are welcomed and encouraged to explore things they are most interested in. Finally, Dr. Renandya reminded everyone that one of our main tasks as an educator in this technology era, where information and knowledge can be obtained very easily through the internet, is to help our students filtering and evaluating the information they receive from various external sources. (Eka)