Surakarta, August 6th, 2026 – In a bold move to expand its international network and equip its lecturers with the skills to secure global research grants, the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) hosted an international workshop and Focus Group Discussion (FGD).
Held at the 2nd Floor Conference Room in Building A, FKIP UNS, the hybrid event brought in two distinguished experts from Ștefan cel Mare University of Suceava (USV), Romania: Prof. Marcela Slusarciuc and Ms. Laura Tanase. Their presence drew an enthusiastic crowd of 70 participants, consisting of academic staff and program representatives from undergraduate (S1), master’s (S2), and doctoral (S3) levels.
“We designed this workshop to equip our faculty members with concrete strategies to build strong academic networks and tap into competitive funding opportunities from Europe,” a faculty representative shared during the opening remarks.
Throughout the sessions, the speakers shared deep insights into navigating European Union funding schemes—from crafting winning collaborative research proposals to designing sustainable academic mobility programs for both lecturers and students. But it wasn’t just a lecture; participants were also guided to draft actionable roadmaps for future collaborations that could lead to joint publications, cross-border curriculum development, and long-term institutional partnerships.
The interactive Focus Group Discussion served as a creative think-tank, allowing each study program to identify prospective research consortia with European counterparts and outline practical steps for securing external grants.
This event marks a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral ties between UNS and USV. More importantly, it reinforces FKIP UNS’s commitment to positioning itself not just as a national leader, but as a globally recognized hub for educational excellence.