On March 18, 2024, students of the Psychology and Culture course attended an online class session inviting Pina Marsico, PhD. She serves as the Associate Professor of Development and Educational Psychology at the University of Salerno in Italy, a Visiting Professor at the PhD Programme in Psychology at the Federal University of Bahia in Brazil, and an Associate Researcher at Aalborg University in Denmark. With extensive experience in research within the educational field, she is now the leading figure in the Cultural Psychology of Education. Through an approximately 100-minute learning session, precisely from 2.20 PM to 4 PM, the students were granted an opportunity to delve into the interplay among culture, the individual, and the environment.

On November 29, 2024, students of the course Psychology of Emotion went on a field study at Savasana Coffee and Event Space in Bantul. The field study was a fruitful discussion on mindfulness-based therapy techniques presented by Annisa Poedji Pratiwi, M.Psi., Psikolog from Charisma Consulting. The session, which took place from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM, was centered on how mindfulness may be incorporated into mental health and emotional control.

With a focus on how mindfulness treatment can promote emotional balance and enhance general mental health, Pratiwi’s experience led participants through important ideas and techniques. Setting the tone for a thoughtful and active learning environment, the session started with an enlightening evaluation of the participants’ emotional states. read more

On September 2nd, 2024, forty-eight students from the IUP Psychology of Character Education and Development class attended a guest lecture conducted by Mr. Anindito Aditomo, S.Psi., M.Phil., Ph.D. He serves as the head of the Agency for Education Standards, Curriculum, and Assessment at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia. Additionally, Mr. Aditomo is an alumnus of the Faculty of Psychology at Universitas Gadjah Mada, where he earned his undergraduate degree in 2003. read more

Upon arriving at the place, the students gathered at the main hall where they sat side by side with children of LPKA, or more well-known as ‘anak binaan’. As it was midday, the students and anak binaan were divided into 8 different groups where they sat in circles to have their lunch together. The students were encouraged to explore more on the daily activities of the anak binaan and how being in LPKA has helped them on behavior improvement.

Afterwards, the LPKA stakeholders led a tour around the LPKA for the students and explained how each existing place plays a role in the behavior improvement of anak binaan. One of the examples is omah konseling, a place where parents of anak binaan would stay for a few days with their children upon their days of departure from LPKA. During those few days, a counselor would be present to help settle things between the parents and the anak binaan to make sure that both parties are ready to face the real world together again.
When asked for a testimony on the field study, Fairuz Haya, one of the students of IUP Psychology Batch 2021 said, “The trip to LPKA exceeded my expectations. At first, I thought the LPKA would be like a prison to the children involved, but as I have seen directly, the guards there have a great growth mindset because they see the children as valuable national assets that need to be protected and its rights fulfilled. The field study certainly broadened my perspective in life.”.
Author: Nabila

The visit to WKCP offered a chance for students to learn firsthand about the concepts they learn in class from family members of children with cerebral palsy and the inspiring members of WKCP who are diagnosed with cerebral palsy themselves. They shared their strategies for coping, the hurdles they face daily, and the unwavering love and dedication that fuels their journey. From this experience, students get to gain new insights and knowledge, as well as building new connections from the local community that aims to provide a safe space for individuals with cerebral palsy and their families.

When asked about a short reflection of the whole trip, Faye Naya Santoso, one of the students from IUP Psychology 2023, gave a long and heartfelt testimony: “I am very grateful for the amazing chance we had to visit WKCP. It was really heartwarming to get to listen to the stories of the family members of children with cerebral palsy, as well as the inspiring stories of the WKCP members who are diagnosed with cerebral palsy themselves, sharing about their journey of living with cerebral palsy and overcoming their hardships, as well as their amazing accomplishments! We were very inspired by their stories that proved that their disabilities do not hinder them from achieving things in life such as building a family or graduating top of the class with a master’s degree! Overall, it was a very enlightening and inspiring visit, from which we hope will provide us with meaningful knowledge and insight for our own journeys!”

Author: Nabila