Yogyakarta, July 30, 2025 — The Educational Research and Evaluation Study Program, Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (GS UNY) successfully held an Inbound Visiting Professor event with the theme “Practitioner Research: Bridging Theory and Practice in Educational Settings”. The event was held in a blended format (offline and online) on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Western Indonesian Time, at the 7th Floor Hall of the Imam Barnadib Building, GS UNY.

This activity was part of academic strengthening in the course Issues of Evaluation Research Issues in the Educational Field, taught by Prof. Slamet PH, M.A., M.Ed., MLHR, M.A., Ph.D It featured an international speaker, Dr. David Hodges from Australia, a specialist in Educational Development and International Policy. His presence provided a global perspective and relevant practical experience in applying practitioner research across various educational contexts.

The event was officially opened by the Vice Director of Academic, Student Affairs, Research, and Cooperation at the UNY Graduate School, Prof. Dr. Dyah Kumalasari, M.Pd., who, in her speech, emphasized the importance of building international cooperation and strengthening academic networks as part of developing higher education quality. “This activity not only broadens our horizons but also bridges the gap between science and real-world practice in education,” she said.

This activity was attended by 187 participants, consisting of 136 were online participants via Zoom and the rest were attending in person at the venue. The participants came from graduate students, lecturers, to education practitioners, who enthusiastically followed the material and discussed directly with the speakers.

Through this program, students not only gained conceptual insights into the practitioner research approach but also a practical understanding of how to bridge theory and implementation in educational evaluation research. This Visiting Professor Inbound activity is expected to be an important part of the process of strengthening academics, global collaboration, and developing the competencies of UNY graduate students. (um)