Yogyakarta, 1 October 2026 — A new chapter in educational collaboration unfolded at the SEAMEO Regional Centre for QITEP in Mathematics (SEAQiM) as the Centre officially welcomed students from UIN K.H. Abdurrahman Wahid (UIN Gusdur) Pekalongan for an internship programme.
Held at the SEAQiM Conference Room, the welcoming programme marked the beginning of a three-month internship period, running from 1 October to 30 December 2026. More importantly, the occasion reflected the continued commitment of SEAQiM and the Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training (FTIK), UIN K.H. Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan, to strengthening institutional collaboration and creating meaningful learning opportunities for the next generation of education professionals.
The programme was attended by Dr. Sri Wulandari Danoebroto, Director of SEAQiM, and Prof. Dr. H. Muhlisin, M.Ag., Dean of FTIK UIN K.H. Abdurrahman Wahid Pekalongan, together with Dr. Samsul Hadi, Deputy Director for Administration of SEAQiM; Dr. Muhamad Jaeni, M.Pd., M.Ag., Vice Dean I of FTIK; Santika Lya Diah Pramesti, M.Pd., Head of the Mathematics Education Study Programme; Heni Lilia Dewi, M.Pd., Secretary of the Mathematics Education Study Programme; and Akhmad Aufa Syukron, M.Pd., Head of the Quality Assurance Unit, as well as SEAQiM staff and the participating students.
The presence of representatives from both institutions underscored a shared vision that meaningful partnerships should extend beyond institutional cooperation and translate into tangible opportunities for students, educators, and communities. Through the internship programme, UIN Gusdur students will have the opportunity to gain first-hand experience within a regional educational institution, broaden their professional perspectives, strengthen their competencies, and engage with the practices and networks that support mathematics education at regional and national levels.
The collaboration between SEAQiM and UIN Gusdur carries significance beyond the internship programme itself. Through the Partnership Agreement (PKS) between SEAQiM and FTIK UIN Gusdur, the two institutions have established a foundation for developing collaborative initiatives that connect education, innovation, and community needs.
One of the promising areas of collaboration is Kampung STEM, an initiative that brings Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) learning into meaningful community contexts. Rather than positioning STEM solely as an academic discipline, Kampung STEM provides a platform through which knowledge and innovation can respond to real challenges faced by local communities.
This approach holds particular relevance for Pekalongan, a city with a strong cultural and economic identity rooted in batik. Alongside its rich batik heritage, the region also faces environmental challenges associated with batik production, including waste management. Through collaboration on Kampung STEM, SEAQiM and UIN Gusdur have an opportunity to explore how STEM-based learning and innovation can contribute to addressing such challenges while strengthening community participation and awareness.
From the classrooms of UIN Gusdur to the professional learning environment of SEAQiM, and from academic discussions to the community-based aspirations of Kampung STEM, the partnership opens a pathway towards a shared future in which education is connected to real-world needs and innovation is grounded in community realities.
The three-month internship may mark the beginning of the students’ journey at SEAQiM, but it also represents something greater: the continuation of a partnership with the potential to transform learning into action and collaboration into impact.
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