Banda Aceh, August 2, 2025 — In an effort to enhance teachers’ competencies and promote the implementation of Project-Based Learning (PJBL) in schools, the Aceh Education Office, in collaboration with the Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) and the USK STEM Research Center, organized a four-day STEMC (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Characters) Training Program from July 30 to August 2, 2025.
The event officially commenced with an opening ceremony at the FMIPA Senate Hall, presided over by Mr. Marthunis, ST., D.E.A., Head of the Aceh Education Office, and attended by Prof. Dr. Taufik Fuadi Abidin, S.Si., M.Tech., Dean of FMIPA USK. In his remarks, Prof. Taufik highlighted the crucial role of teachers in designing learning activities that foster creativity, critical thinking, and technological literacy in today’s digital era.
“STEM is not only about science and technology—it is also about shaping young people’s character to become innovative and adaptable in facing the challenges of the modern world,” he stated.
Throughout the training, participants engaged in intensive sessions led by experts from the Department of Physics and the USK STEM Research Center. The sessions, held at Mita Mulia Hotel, Darussalam, covered topics such as STEM-based learning approaches, Introduction to Sensors and Microcontrollers, and Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).
A key highlight of the program was the hands-on Arduino workshop, conducted at the USK Basic Physics Laboratory, where participants designed and developed innovative STEM projects.
The training brought together 20 selected teachers from across Aceh’s districts, chosen from over 200 applicants. The participants were high school teachers from science-related disciplines, including Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Mathematics, and Informatics/ICT.
The primary goal of this initiative is to strengthen teachers’ capacity in designing and implementing STEM-based innovative projects that can be applied in their respective schools. By doing so, participants are expected to become change agents, inspiring their peers within local teacher working groups (MGMP) and fostering students’ interest in STEM through contextual and engaging learning experiences.
This STEMC training serves as a strategic step toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing teacher quality and educational innovation, SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) through the integration of technology and engineering in education, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by strengthening collaboration between government institutions and academia. Ultimately, this program supports Aceh’s vision of building a quality and character-based education system that nurtures a generation of young innovators in science and technology.
