DESCRIPTION, VISION, MISSION, AND OBJECTIVES OF STEM RESEARCH CENTER
A. Description
Starting with a Workshop on High School Physics Teachers with a theme Development of Science Interest and Empowerment of Physics Laboratories in Nanggroe Aceh High School Darussalam which was held in collaboration with Physics FMIPA Unsyiah with Fukui, Japan on March 20-21, 2006. Based on this experience, Irwandi, Ph.D (Current Chair of the STEM Research Center) proposes community service activities about the use of daily materials that can be used as making practical tools simple. Irwandi, Ph.D made 2 workshops related to the idea and was funded by Institute of Research and Community Service (LPPM) Unsyiah.
In 2012 Irwandi, Ph.D left for Italy to continue his S3 research at Trieste University. While undergoing his PhD research in Italy, he had the opportunity to participate Physware workshop in 2015 about learning physics through learning models ISLE (Investigative Science Learning Experiments) developed by Prof. Eugina Etkina from Rutgers University. After returning from Indonesia, the knowledge was implemented into in the form of activities to improve the ability of physics teachers at the secondary school level Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar by inviting Ms. Melvina, S.Pd., M.Ed who is a FKIP Physics lecturers as partners in these activities. The results of this cooperation were obtained some research results which eventually developed into the Pre-Proposal then submitted in the PEER Project Cycle 6 activity. Entering the full proposal stage, Irwandi, Ph.D invites Dr. Rini Oktavia, M.A (Mathematics Lecturer at FMIPA Unsyiah) and also Dr. Rajibussalim (Physics Lecturer of FMIPA) into the research until the proposal qualified and funded by USAID for 3 years. The title of the proposal submitted “Integrating ISLE in Integrated Science Instruction to Improve Science Teacher’s Abilities on STEM Education. ” After that, the chairperson of LPPM Unsyiah who was then chaired by Prof. Dr. Ir. Hasanuddin, M.S., proposed the establishment of a scientific research center based on its letter Decision of the Chancellor Number 1251 / UN11 / KPT / 2018 stipulated the decision to establish the Center Research in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, hereinafter better known by the name of the STEM Research Center. At present the STEM Research Center has an organizational structure consisted of FMIPA, FT, FKIP and FKH research experts with various multidisciplinary science. The STEM Research Center is committed to improving the ability of Acehnese teachers and students in the STEM field through activities such as Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Workshop and training, Seminars, Expo, STEM Camp, Visit School, and good cooperation at the regional, national, regional and international level. At present the STEM Research Center is focused in the development of learning media based on ISLE Based STEM for the high school level and PAUD and will continue to grow over time.
B. VISION
Becoming a Research Center for STEM Development (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) which is innovative, independent and leading in the fields of education, research, and community service to prepare a tough generation to face the Industrial Revolution 4.0 in the 21st century.
C. MISSION
The mission of the Unsyiah STEM Research Center is as follows:
- Create a STEM Research Center (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) as a center of superior study.
- Developing science, technology, engineering and mathematics education integrated and creates a pleasant learning atmosphere with a motto “Learning is fun”.
- Establish and develop cooperation at the regional, national, regional and international in the field of STEM.
- Producing ISLE-based STEM learning models that are able to create a generation that has the ability to think critically, creativity, communication, and Collaboration (4C) plus Character (1C) as noble moral scientists (5C = 4C + 1C).
- Becoming a pioneer in developing ISLE-based STEM learning models at the national and international scope
- Build and develop a STEM Center in Aceh that is a model STEM Development Center for other regions in Indonesia.
D. Strategic Objectives
- Identifying STEM education problems in Indonesia.
- Find the optimal solution from all STEM problems with the emphasis is on efforts to create a generation with scientific character and noble character (STEM-C).
- Implement solutions to STEM education problems based on the concept of “learning is fun” at every level of education.
- Generate integrated ISLE-based STEM curriculum recommendations at the regional, national, and regional levels.
- Research the development of STEM education at the level of regional, national, regional, and international.
- Producing various scientific works in the field of STEM education
- Generate various collaboration programs in various STEM fields institutions at the regional, national, regional, and international levels.
See Documentation on the activities of the Unsyiah STEM Research Center