International mobility programs have once again proven their role in enhancing the quality of doctoral research. Mohd Zaidi, a doctoral (PhD) student in Science Education at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), participated in a visiting researcher program at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyväskylä, Finland, from November 2025 to March 2026. This activity was part of the PKPI-PMDSU program initiated by the Directorate of Resources, Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology.
While in Finland, Zaidi joined the Innovative Learning Environments (ILE) research group, an academic community focused on developing innovative learning environments based on future-oriented approaches. The program received strong support from various stakeholders at the host institution, who view international mobility as a strategic step in strengthening research quality while expanding global collaboration networks.
The PKPI-PMDSU program itself is designed not only to accelerate doctoral studies but also to integrate international mobility and support for scientific publications. This approach makes internationalization a core component of doctoral education, which fosters a productive and sustainable research ecosystem.
The success of this program is closely tied to the continuity of supervision between Indonesia and Finland. At UPI, Zaidi’s research is supervised by Dr. Achmad Samsudin, M.Pd., as the main supervisor, alongside Prof. Dr. Andi Suhandi, M.Si., as the co-supervisor, and Dr. Nanang Winarno, M.Pd., as a supervisory team member. Meanwhile, during his time in Finland, Zaidi is supervised by Dr. Kristóf Fenyvesi, who is also an associate professor at UPI. This cross-institutional collaboration created strong synergy in the academic supervision process.
Within the ILE research environment, Zaidi’s research was developed in a transdisciplinary manner by integrating TPACK, augmented reality, and deep learning-based instruction into studies of STEAM, participatory design, and the development of future learning environments. Additionally, his involvement in the METEOR project led by Prof. Terhi Nokkala provided valuable experience in developing transversal skills and cross-disciplinary collaboration, with support from postdoctoral researcher Dr. Josephine Lau.
Zaidi’s academic experience was further enriched through visits to several schools in Finland. These visits provided firsthand insight into educational practices in the field while broadening his perspective on connecting theory with real-world implementation. In addition, Zaidi contributed to the STEXperiments project, which further strengthened his involvement in international collaborative research.
A dynamic academic environment, interactions with international researchers, and support from the Indonesian academic community in Jyväskylä were key factors in the success of this program. Over the five-month period, Zaidi demonstrated significant research productivity by completing several scientific manuscripts targeted for reputable international journals. One of his manuscripts has already been published, while others are currently under review.
This experience highlights that international doctoral mobility not only broadens academic horizons but also tangibly enhances the quality and productivity of research. The collaborations established during this program are expected to continue and contribute to the advancement of science education at the global level.
contributor: Ms. Eliyawati