Banda Aceh – The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) recently held a collaborative meeting with the Aceh Education Department to design strategic programs aimed at improving the quality of education in Aceh. The meeting, held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, in the Dean’s Meeting Room at FMIPA USK, focused on innovative initiatives, including the application of artificial intelligence, the revitalization of school laboratories, teacher capacity-building, and science olympiad training. This event marks the beginning of an ongoing partnership to foster human resource development in Aceh.
The event was attended by the Head of the Aceh Education Department, Marthunis, S.T., D.E.A., and the Dean of FMIPA USK, Prof. Dr. Taufik Fuadi Abidin, S.Si., M.Tech., along with faculty representatives and department officials. In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Taufik Fuadi Abidin expressed his appreciation for this synergy, highlighting the rapid progress FMIPA has achieved in recent years. However, he acknowledged existing challenges, particularly in optimizing laboratory facilities, which have yet to reach their full potential. “We hope that this laboratory revitalization can enhance the quality of teaching and hands-on learning, laying the foundation for scientific and technological advancement in Aceh,” stated Prof. Taufik.
Marthunis, S.T., D.E.A., the Head of the Aceh Education Department, also addressed key issues facing education in Aceh, including the declining ranking of Aceh’s high schools in the national Computer-Based Test (UTBK). He emphasized the importance of teacher capacity-building to address this issue, asserting, “There are no bad students; there are only teachers who may need better training.” In addition to general teacher capacity-building, the Aceh Education Department is committed to supporting science olympiad training programs to nurture high-achieving students who can compete at national and international levels. This training initiative is expected to inspire Aceh’s students to excel in science competitions and bring pride to the region.
Another critical topic discussed was the application of Big Data Analytics in education. Through this technology, data from student assessments will be analyzed to gain comprehensive insights into the educational needs and gaps in Aceh. “Big Data Analytics will allow us to obtain a detailed, data-driven picture of student performance in Aceh. This analysis can serve as the foundation for targeted policy decisions to enhance education quality,” explained Marthunis. This data-driven approach aims to support evidence-based decision-making in formulating education policies for Aceh.
Following the productive discussions, the meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between FMIPA USK and the Aceh Education Department. This partnership is expected to reinforce the implementation of the planned programs. Subsequently, this Memorandum of Agreement will be outlined in more detailed Implementation Agreements (IAs) across relevant departments within FMIPA, ensuring that each program is tailored to address the specific needs of each department, such as laboratory capacity-building and science olympiad training.
The meeting also addressed the upcoming expiration of Aceh’s Special Autonomy (Otsus) status, which could impact funding allocations for education in the region. This raised concerns about the sustainability of education programs, particularly those aimed at improving education quality in Aceh. Both Marthunis and Prof. Taufik agreed to seek solutions to tackle these challenges, including through collaboration with the central government and strengthened partnerships between educational institutions and relevant agencies.
Through this synergy between FMIPA USK and the Aceh Education Department, it is hoped that Aceh’s education system can advance by leveraging cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data analytics. The collaboration also emphasizes the importance of enhancing teacher quality and providing adequate laboratory facilities to create an educational ecosystem capable of producing competitive graduates. The structured and comprehensive science olympiad training program is expected to nurture talented young people in Aceh who can excel on national and international stages.
“This partnership is a tangible step toward addressing the educational challenges in Aceh, and we hope its results will build a knowledgeable generation ready to compete globally,” concluded Prof. Taufik.
