Teacher Training in Riau Islands: Welcoming the Future of Education Through Artificial Intelligence, and Professionalism Enhancement for Teachers in Korea

Bandung, June 19, 2025 – As part of the implementation of the Leading University Project for International Cooperation (LUPIC) program, Fabrication Laboratory Education (Fablab Edu), the Chemistry and Chemistry Education Study Program of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Education (FPMIPA), Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Science, Sogang University, South Korea, held a webinar with the theme “Teacher Training in Riau Islands: Welcoming the Future of Education Through Artificial Intelligence, and Professionalism Enhancement for Teachers in Korea.”

This activity is part of an academic collaboration under an international consortium involving Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), Universitas Negeri Semarang (Unnes), and Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha (Undiksha), coordinated by Sogang University, South Korea. The program adopted a hybrid approach, involving about 300 online participants from the Riau Islands and UPI, along with 30 participants who joined in person at the Smart Classroom, Faculty of Mathematics and Science Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia.

The webinar featured three distinguished speakers who brought valuable perspectives on teacher professionalism and the role of technology in modern education. The first speaker, Prof. Won Koo Lee from Sogang University, delivered a presentation titled “Professionalism enhancement for teachers in Korea.” In his session, he introduced the Sogang LUPIC Project, a professional development program designed to support teachers through structured and purposeful growth. Prof. Lee emphasized the importance of strengthening the core competencies of a professional teacher, including critical thinking, adaptability, creativity, and a commitment to lifelong learning. These competencies, he noted, are crucial in preparing educators to meet the dynamic demands of 21st-century classrooms.

The second session, “Deep learning,” was presented by Metta Liana, S.Pd., M.Pd. from Universitas Maritim Raja Ali Haji, Riau. She introduced deep learning as a learning approach that honors students and supports the realization of Indonesia’s eight graduate profiles (delapan dimensi profil pelajar Pancasila). Deep learning, she explained, is guided by the principle of mindful, meaningful, and joyful learning. Mindful means learning that ensures students are focused, comfortable, and able to concentrate. Meaningful refers to students constructing new knowledge based on their prior understanding. Joyful indicates that students experience positive, challenging, and motivating learning processes. These three aspects are essential to create holistic and impactful learning experiences.

The third and final presentation, “AI Utilizing in Deep Learning Approach,” was delivered by Hariati, S.Si., M.Pd. from Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. Her talk focused on the importance of attracting and maintaining students’ attention in today’s digital landscape. She discussed various types of artificial intelligence and their application within educational settings, especially when integrated with deep learning strategies. Furthermore, she highlighted the potential impact—both benefits and challenges—of AI in shaping the future of teaching and learning.

The webinar also featured an engaging Q&A and discussion session, during which participants shared their teaching experiences and reflected on the current realities of education in Indonesia. This interactive segment fostered valuable dialogue around the practical implementation of ideas and how global educational innovations can be contextualized to support local teaching practices. (DSM)