TWO PROFESSORS FROM THAKSIN UNIVERSITY THAILAND ARE APPOINTED AS THE SPEAKERS AT UAD FKIP BEM NATIONAL SEMINAR

The Student Executive Board (BEM) of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) of Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD) held a National Seminar on Sunday (20/9) with the topic of “Teacher Readiness in Facing the Asian Economic Community”
The event was attended by 300 participants and invited guests and took place at UAD Campus I Auditorium with Associate Professor Dr. Charas Atiwithayaporn, (Thaksin University, Thailand), Assistant Professor Dr. Rungchatchaporn Vehachat (Thaksin University, Thailand), DR H Sugito, M.Si (PGRI Grand Board), and Drs. Edy Heri Suasana, M.Pd. (Head of Yogyakarta City Education Office) as the speakers.
Dr Sugito, M.Si., in his presentation, stated that a superior professional teacher needed to have a number of competences, including pedagogical, personal, social and professional competences. In addition, a teacher also had to master foreign languages, information technology and learning methods according to teacher’s code of ethics.
Meanwhile, in his presentation, Drs. Edy Heri Suasana, M.Pd. as the Head of Yogyakarta City Education office reported that there were 35,527 schools, 552,083 teachers and 9,653,093 students in Indonesia. The statement was based on the data taken on 25 October 2014 which was updated on 17 June 2015. Facing the AEC, the government does not only need to issue policies but also prepares institutions, facilities and infrastructure, content and individuals. In addition, he also presented his idea on how Indonesia can compete with other countries. In his closing speech, he expressed his hope that Indonesian teachers would be ready to welcome the Asian Economic Community with global competitive competences.
Associate Professor Dr. Charas Atiwithayaporn and Assistant Professor Dr. Rungchatchaporn Vehachat stated that having a particular profession did not mean being professional. Therefore, teaching as a professional is a difficult thing to do because, to become one, a teacher needs to play various roles.
The seminar was attended by the UAD Rector, FKIP Dean, FKIP Vice Dean, FKIP Heads of Study Programs, FKIP Student Guidance, FKIP Public Relations and FKIP Student Organizations. The event was closed with the distribution of souvenirs to all speakers and a panel discussion with participants from several well-renowned universities in Indonesia. (H2)