Jakarta, October 4, 2024 — The Faculty of Teacher Training and Education, Universitas Terbuka (FKIP UT) once again held the 4th Academic Seminar Series with the theme “Building Awareness of Mental Health in the Academic World”. This activity is part of FKIP UT’s weekly routine which is held every Friday as an academic day, which has been running effectively in strengthening the academic climate of the faculty.
The seminar which was held on Friday morning, October 4, 2024, began with a speech and opening by the Dean of FKIP UT, Prof. Dr. Ucu Rahayu, M.Sc. In his speech, Prof. Ucu reminded about the importance of paying attention to mental health, especially in an academic environment that is often full of pressure and challenges. “Mental health is the key to maintaining balance and productivity in the academic world. Therefore, we all must be more concerned and sensitive to the mental condition of ourselves and our colleagues,” he said.
The main speaker in this seminar was Dr. Mudayat, M.Pd., an expert in the field of education who also has a great concern for mental health issues. In his presentation, Dr. Mudayat explained the concept of mental health, the importance of balance between physical and mental health, and practical ways to manage stress in an often stressful academic environment.
This Academic Seminar activity was attended by 76 participants who were lecturers, education staff, students and other academics.
In addition to explaining the theory of mental health, Dr. Mudayat also provided real case examples from the academic world, where high workloads, expectations from various parties, and productivity demands often cause emotional stress that leads to mental health problems. According to him, preventive measures such as psychosocial support and effective stress management are needed so that academics can continue to work without being disturbed by mental problems that are often invisible but have a big impact.
The seminar ended with an interactive question and answer session, where participants could ask Dr. Mudayat directly about various issues surrounding mental health in an academic context. Many participants felt helped by the practical tips given by the speaker, especially regarding how to deal with academic pressure better.
In this seminar, participants consisting of students, lecturers, and education staff at FKIP UT were also invited to explore the importance of mental balance through a holistic approach that includes physical, mental, social, and spiritual aspects. This seminar is expected to increase awareness and concern of the entire academic community of FKIP UT towards the importance of maintaining mental health to create a more supportive and productive academic environment.
The FKIP UT Academic Seminar is a weekly faculty agenda that functions as a forum for sharing knowledge, ideas, and experiences between academic communities in order to improve academic quality and develop self-competence.
About FKIP UT
FKIP Universitas Terbuka is one of the faculties at Universitas Terbuka that consistently supports the development of openness and distance-based education. With various study programs available, FKIP UT is committed to producing quality educators who are ready to contribute to the development of national education.