UNY Students Shine on the International Stage: Present Innovative Research in Turkey

In addition to actively contributing to various activities at the national level, ten students from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) have achieved brilliant accomplishments on the international stage. They were selected as presenters at two conferences in Antalya, Turkey: the International Conference on Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology (ICEMST) and the International Conference on Research in Education and Science (ICRES).

These ten students—including six from the UNY Physics Education Master's Program—enlivened the events organized by The International Society for Technology, Education and Science (ISTES) at the end of April 2025. In front of academics from 42 countries, they presented their research findings and discussed with world education and science experts. The ten students involved in this activity were Aris Kurniawan, Fauziah Rasyid, Utami Putri, Sul Daeng Naba, Proki Karandja Hawur, Cahya Widya Gunawan, Wike Nur Febriani, Daniel Jesayanto Jaya, Nandang Kurniadi, and Akhmad Irfan.

Their participation in these seminars was supported by funding from LPDP Kemenkeu and BPI Kemendikbudristek. Most of them collaborated with UNY lecturers in writing the articles they presented. Aris Kurniawan, one of the participants, presented research titled "Ethno Science: Exploring Physics Concept on the ‘BESEI KAMBE’ Traditional Sports in Central Kalimantan." "Besides wanting to get constructive feedback for the article I wrote and showing that culture can be integrated into physics learning, I also hope to introduce the culture of Central Kalimantan to the international arena," he said enthusiastically. An academic from Slovakia, Dr. Dagmar Ruskova, appreciated Aris's presentation, saying, "Teaching physics concepts relevant to students' daily lives makes physics learning more effective and interesting."

During the four-day international seminar held from April 28th to May 1st, 2025, participants attended a series of events that began with the opening and presentation of research results by keynote speakers on the first day. On the second, third, and fourth days, the students presented their research findings. Some of the research titles presented included an article written by Cahya titled "Literature Study: Analysis of The Application of A Guided Inquiry Learning Model to Improve Students' Critical Thinking Abilities in Science Learning," and by Utami titled "The Effectiveness of Interactive Conceptual Instruction, Diagnostic Tests, and Conceptual Change Models in Addressing Misconceptions in Physics: Literature Review." These works are the results of research that will be published in proceeding papers, which will certainly enrich the global scientific treasury.

Fauziah Rasyid, a Master's student in Physics Education at UNY, admitted to learning a lot, "Attending this international seminar left a strong positive impression because we had the opportunity to communicate with intellectuals who are so enthusiastic about the world of education," she explained.

In addition to benefiting from networking and exchanging ideas with academics from various countries, the beauty of Turkey was also a tremendous attraction. Proki admitted to being very enthusiastic about the charm of Turkey, "The experience of visiting Hagia Sophia was very impressive, especially with its historical story. A building that once served as a church, mosque, museum, and has now become a mosque again. No less interesting, the beauty of Cappadocia in Göreme was a feast for the eyes, and being able to explore the narrow corridors in the Özkonak underground city amazed me at the strength and creativity of past civilizations. This trip was very valuable for us, not only broadening our academic and cultural horizons but also enriching the humanitarian values within me," she expressed enthusiastically.

ICEMST and ICRES themselves are annual events that serve as platforms for innovation in education, science, and technology. The participation of UNY students proves that this campus continues to produce outstanding generations who are competitive at the global level.

Congratulations to the UNY students! May this achievement inspire many other young academics.

Author

Aris Kurniawan