06/12/2024 - On Saturday (9/11), the Doctoral Program in Educational Sciences, Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), held a webinar featuring two important themes: “Anticipating and Addressing Sexual Violence from the Perspective of Educational Sciences” and “Artificial Intelligence (AI) from the Perspective of Educational Sciences.”

The webinar featured two distinguished speakers: Prof. Dr. Farida Hanum, M.Pd. and Prof. Herman Dwi Surjono, M.Sc., M.T., Ph.D., who shared in-depth insights on these two crucial issues in the field of education.

In the first session, Prof. Farida Hanum explored the issue of sexual violence within educational environments, a problem that occurs frequently yet remains insufficiently addressed. She emphasized the importance of character education as a preventive measure, alongside firm policies that protect victims and impose strict sanctions on perpetrators.

“Sexual violence does not only harm individuals, but also undermines the entire education system. We need to strengthen literacy and awareness on sexual violence among students, teachers, and the wider community,” Prof. Farida explained.

She also highlighted the need for collaboration among educators, parents, and the government to create safe environments within educational institutions.

The second session featured Prof. Herman Dwi Surjono, who discussed the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in improving the quality of education. He explained how AI can be applied in various aspects of education, including personalized learning, student data analysis, and the development of technology-driven curricula.

“AI has enormous potential to revolutionize education. However, it is crucial to ensure that its use adheres to ethical principles and does not replace the teacher’s central role as an educator,” Prof. Herman stated.

He also pointed out challenges such as unequal access to technology and the risks associated with student data misuse, which must be addressed alongside the integration of AI.

The webinar was attended by students, lecturers, and education practitioners from various regions. The interactive Q&A session was dynamic, allowing participants to share perspectives and exchange ideas on both topics.

The event concluded with a shared hope that stronger collaboration between academics, practitioners, and policymakers will continue to grow to address the complex challenges of education in the modern era.

(ant)