BALI, 2–4 October 2026 — The Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) participated in the 12th National Convention on Indonesian Education (Konvensi Nasional Pendidikan Indonesia/KONASPI XII), held at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC), Bali, from 2 to 4 October 2026. The Faculty was represented by members of its leadership, the Faculty Senate, and representatives of the S1 Psychology Study Program. The Head of the S1 Psychology Study Program was also present as part of the Faculty's representation, reflecting UNY Faculty of Psychology's engagement with strategic developments in higher education and the future direction of national educational transformation.

KONASPI XII provided an important platform for higher education institutions within the Teacher Education Institutions (Lembaga Pendidikan Tenaga Kependidikan/LPTK) ecosystem to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing Indonesian education amid rapid technological development, the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI), and changing societal needs. The convention brought together university leaders and representatives to exchange perspectives on educational development, human resource capacity building, graduate quality, and stronger collaboration among higher education institutions.

For the UNY Faculty of Psychology, participation in KONASPI XII represents an important opportunity to bring psychological perspectives into broader discussions on human development and educational transformation. Changes in education are not limited to systems, policies, or technologies; they also concern how people learn, develop, adapt, build relationships, and maintain psychological well-being in an increasingly complex environment. The participation of the Faculty's representatives also provided an opportunity to strengthen institutional networks with universities participating in KONASPI. The exchange of ideas throughout the convention created opportunities for future collaboration in education, research, community engagement, scholarly publication, and other academic initiatives. For the UNY Faculty of Psychology, such networks are valuable in strengthening the contribution of psychological science to educational development and human resource advancement in Indonesia.

One of the central issues discussed during KONASPI XII was the need for comprehensive and sustainable educational transformation. Digital technologies and AI offer significant opportunities to expand access to knowledge, introduce innovative learning approaches, and improve educational processes. At the same time, their implementation requires careful attention to ethics, character development, social interaction, psychological well-being, and the need to keep human beings at the centre of education. These concerns are closely connected to the field of psychology. Quality education is shaped not only by academic achievement but also by critical thinking, motivation, self-regulation, social skills, psychological resilience, character, and individuals' capacity to adapt to change. Educational transformation therefore requires an approach that combines technological progress with a deeper understanding of human beings as the central subjects of education.

Throughout KONASPI XII, participating LPTKs also discussed strategic directions for Indonesian education, which were subsequently reflected in the Bali Recommendations. The recommendations emerged from the convention and its accompanying discussions and addressed several major concerns, including the strengthening of character and the philosophy of Indonesian education, the development of foundational learning, the revitalization of the role of LPTKs in preparing educators, and the development of an educational system capable of responding to technological change in an inclusive and sustainable manner. Character development was highlighted as an essential element because education has a responsibility to develop individuals who are not only academically competent but also demonstrate integrity, responsibility, social awareness, and the ability to live constructively within diverse communities. The values of Pancasila and the educational philosophy of Ki Hadjar Dewantara remain important foundations for ensuring that educational transformation continues to support the development of the Indonesian individual as a whole.

The strengthening of foundational learning was another important aspect of the transformation agenda. Literacy, numeracy, scientific understanding, and critical thinking are essential competencies that enable learners to engage in lifelong learning and respond adaptively to change. From the perspective of educational psychology, these competencies are closely related to cognitive development, learning motivation, self-regulation, and supportive learning environments that enable individuals to reach their potential. The rapid development of AI also introduces new dimensions to the relationship between people, technology, and education. For psychology, these developments create expanding opportunities to study human behaviour in digital environments, decision-making processes, learning patterns, human–technology interaction, and the implications of technological change for psychological well-being. Educational innovation therefore needs to be accompanied by digital literacy, ethical awareness, critical thinking, and an understanding of responsibility in the use of emerging technologies.

The involvement of the S1 Psychology Study Program at UNY, including the presence of its Head of Study Program, represents an important part of the Faculty's broader participation in the convention. The presence of S1 Psychology representatives strengthens the connection between national-level discussions on higher education and the development of psychology education at the study-program level. It also provides an opportunity to consider how changes in the national educational landscape can be translated into curriculum development, learning practices, student competencies, research, and graduates' contributions to society. As part of the UNY Faculty of Psychology, the S1 Psychology Study Program has a strategic role in preparing graduates who possess strong foundations in psychological science while being able to understand human behaviour across diverse contexts. Changes in the world of work, technological development, and the growing societal need for psychological knowledge require psychology education to remain adaptive while maintaining strong scientific foundations and human-centred values.

KONASPI XII also reinforced the importance of collaboration among higher education institutions in addressing educational challenges. No single university can independently respond to the full complexity of educational issues. Sharing institutional experiences, conducting collaborative research, developing innovations, engaging with communities, and strengthening academic networks are essential to building a stronger educational ecosystem. Within this context, the participation of the UNY Faculty of Psychology reflects its commitment to developing meaningful academic and institutional relationships with higher education institutions across Indonesia. Through its participation in KONASPI XII, the UNY Faculty of Psychology not only followed developments in national educational discourse but also contributed to broader discussions on human-centred education. The presence of faculty leadership, Faculty Senate representatives, and representatives of S1 Psychology demonstrates the Faculty's commitment to engaging with strategic agendas that will shape the future of education and human resource development in Indonesia.

This engagement is also aligned with the Faculty's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education, through efforts to strengthen educational quality and relevance; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, through responsible innovation and technological development in education; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, through stronger networks and collaboration among higher education institutions.

For the UNY Faculty of Psychology and the S1 Psychology Study Program, KONASPI XII served as an important momentum to strengthen the role of higher education in developing individuals who are competent, adaptive, resilient, and psychologically well. Amid accelerating digital transformation and increasingly complex social change, education must continue to place human beings at the centre of innovation. Through psychological scholarship, academic collaboration, and active engagement in national educational forums, the UNY Faculty of Psychology remains committed to contributing to an Indonesian education system that is human-centred, inclusive, adaptive, and sustainable.