Surakarta, August 11, 2025 – The Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) held a guest lecture entitled “Educational Innovation: Preparing Teachers for Global Challenges” featuring Prof. Andrew Peter Boon, Ph.D, a Visiting Professor from Toyo Gakeun University, Japan. The event took place on Monday, August 11, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM WIB, attended by lecturers, heads of study programs, faculty leaders, and the Dean of FKIP UMS.
In this session, Prof. Boon presented various global challenges faced by the world of education, ranging from climate change, inequality, and conflicts to technological disruption and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on traditional learning. He emphasized the importance of global competence for teachers, which includes the ability to understand global and cross-cultural issues, communicate across cultures, and take ethical action for the common good.
Prof. Boon also discussed 21st-century skills that students need to acquire, such as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, communication, digital literacy, and global awareness. In the context of educational innovation, he introduced various new learning models such as flipped learning, project-based learning (PBL), and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), which can be applied in teacher education programs.
In addition, the speaker highlighted the role of future teachers as learning facilitators, classroom researchers, and intercultural bridge builders, rather than merely knowledge transmitters. Therefore, teacher education must prioritize inquiry-based approaches, reflective practice, collaborative learning, classroom action research, digital literacy, and intercultural competence.
The event concluded with an interactive discussion, where FKIP UMS lecturers shared experiences and insights on implementing educational innovations in Indonesia, as well as strategies for preparing prospective teachers to face global challenges without abandoning local values and cultural wisdom.
