The Agricultural Extension and Communication Study Program (PKP), Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), continues to be committed to improving the quality of education by providing international learning experiences for its students. One of the concrete steps that has been taken is through collaboration with Coursera, a global online learning platform that allows students to take lectures from world-renowned universities and institutions without having to go directly abroad. This program is part of the curriculum internationalization strategy which is expected to broaden students’ horizons and strengthen the competitiveness of PKP graduates at the global level.
Through this platform, students can access thousands of courses that are relevant to their academic and self-development fields. In PKP UNS Study Program itself, there are four selected students who have participated in the coursera program, namely Benedicta Nilam Ayu Pramesti, Brillan Nala Rakhmatal-Azza, Juna Fatimatuz Az-Zahra, and Raden Roro Hesti Ratnasari with Mr. Widiyanto, S.P., M.Si., PhD, as the supervising lecturer. The students took international courses in accordance with the scientific fields of PKP study program, such as Global sustainability and corporate social responsibility held by Macquare University, Agroforesty held by the University of Florida, Journalism, The Future, and You held by Michigan State University, Entrepreneurship by Illionis University, Communication Science held by the University of Amsterdam, Foundations of Strategic Communications and Advanced communication strategies held by John Hopkins University.
Participation in Coursera provides a variety of tangible benefits for students. In addition to increasing understanding of agricultural issues in a global context, students can also develop critical thinking skills, learn from real case studies in various countries, and improve academic English skills. After completing the course, students will also receive an official certificate from the organizing institution, which can certainly be an added value in their academic and professional portfolios.
This program not only provides individual benefits for students, but also strengthens the academic reputation of the study program at the international level. With PKP UNS students successfully participating and completing international courses, the PKP Study Program shows its readiness to face global challenges and opens up space for wider educational cooperation in the future. In addition, this international experience will also enrich academic discussions in the classroom.
It is hoped that in the future, more PKP UNS students can take advantage of opportunities like this and use Coursera as a bridge to learn directly from trusted sources in the world. PKP Study Program is also committed to continue to facilitate and support various innovative learning activities that are in line with the times. Thus, students not only become academically competent graduates, but also adaptive, open to change, and ready to compete globally.
