Bandung, May 6 & 8, 2025 — Graduate students at the Faculty of Mathematics and Science Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (FPMIPA UPI), had the rare opportunity to engage in a special academic discussion and consultation session with Prof. Minsu Ha, Associate Professor of Biology Education at Seoul National University, South Korea. The event was held in two enriching sessions—on Tuesday, May 6th (13.00–15.00 WIB) and Thursday, May 8th (09.00–11.30 WIB)—at the FPMIPA Auditorium.

This exclusive event was designed to foster deeper research insights, encourage scholarly exchange, and open up potential avenues for future collaboration. Throughout both sessions, Prof. Ha generously shared his expertise in science education research, offering perspectives rooted in his academic journey, including his doctoral experience at The Ohio State University. Graduate students actively participated in discussions, posing thoughtful questions about their own research and gaining valuable input on how to improve their study designs and methods.

Key highlights of the sessions included a discussion on qualitative research approaches, assessment design practices, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in educational evaluation. Prof. Ha also emphasized the importance of research novelty, guiding students on how to strengthen their thesis or dissertation proposals through literature exploration and instrument development. A particularly engaging part of the discussion centered on the “model and context paradigm”, which Prof. Ha described as a critical framework for both teaching and research design in science education. The interactive format of the event allowed students to sharpen their ideas and left them inspired to pursue more meaningful and impactful academic work.