Risa Nurullailiyah Sujono, fondly known as Risa, has successfully completed her Master’s degree in Science Education at Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) with impressive achievements. Her master’s thesis, titled Development of a Science Virtual Laboratory Integrated with the Local Potential of Kotagede Silver Craftsmanship Using a Scientific Approach to Enhance Critical Thinking and Learning Independence of Middle School Students, reflects her dedication to innovative and culturally relevant education.
Risa’s thesis builds on her earlier success during her undergraduate studies, where she earned a gold medal at the 2021 National Student Digital Innovation Competition (LIDM). Her entry, titled Development of Discovery Learning Modules Based on Virtual Labs and Augmented Reality to Improve Conceptual Understanding of Geometric Optics Materials, laid the foundation for her advanced research. “Winning this competition allowed me to graduate without a thesis, completing my undergraduate program in just three years and six months,” she shared.
Her master’s research delves deeper into the integration of local cultural heritage—specifically Kotagede’s silver craftsmanship—into educational media. By presenting cultural heritage in an innovative format, her work aims to make traditional crafts more appealing to younger generations. Risa believes this approach is vital, as many young people today are unfamiliar with their local cultural potential. She hopes her research inspires further development in integrating cultural heritage into education.
In addition to her thesis, Risa has contributed significantly to academic literature, including publishing in SINTA 2 journals. One of her notable articles, Science Virtual Laboratory Implementation to Improve Students' Critical Thinking Skills: A Content Analysis, demonstrates her commitment to advancing science education.
Risa’s academic achievements have been supported by the Indonesia Maju Scholarship, part of the Indonesia Education Scholarship program from LPDP. Her accomplishments have also paved the way for her to pursue doctoral studies in Science Education at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, UNY, following a strong recommendation from her master’s program head.
Risa’s journey exemplifies academic excellence, cultural preservation, and innovation, setting an inspiring example for the next generation of scholars.
