Bratislava, Slovakia — Two representatives from UIII brought fresh insights on empathy, wellbeing, and diversity in early childhood education (ECE) to the global stage at the 33rd Annual Conference of the European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA), held from August 25–28, 2025, at the Faculty of Arts, Comenius University, Bratislava.

Assoc. Prof. Charyna Ayu Rizkyanti, lecturer at the Faculty of Education, and Syifa Mufiedatussalam, a PhD candidate at the Faculty of Education, joined hundreds of international scholars at this year’s event, themed “Early Education for All: Celebrating Diversity and Seeking Inclusion.”

Assoc. Prof. Charyna presented two of her recent studies across different symposium sessions, namely Symposium Set A themed ‘Children’s Behaviour and Teacher Empathy’. Held on August 26, 2025, she delivered a presentation titled “Striking the Right Balance: How Empathy Shapes Gen Z Early Childhood Teachers.”

The next day on August 27, 2025, Assoc. Prof. Charyna presented at the Symposium Set E themed ‘Teacher Empathy, Emotions, and Expectations’. In this session, she delivered a compelling topic of “Valuing Diversity in ECE through Teacher Empathy: A Mixed-Method Study”, a collaborative project she conducted with Popi Rosepti, an UIII alumna from the first-batch MA student at the Faculty of Education.

Meanwhile, Syifa Mufiedatussalam presented her doctoral research under Symposium Set F themed ‘Teacher’s Wellbeing’ on August 27, 2025. Her presentation was titled “How well are you, dear early childhood teacher?” Her presentation highlighted the pressing importance of supporting teacher wellbeing as a foundation for inclusive and high-quality early childhood education.

Both presenters received strong appreciation from participants and opened doors for international collaboration, including book projects, joint research, and academic partnerships with institutions across Europe and beyond.

Beyond paper presentations, Assoc. Prof. Charyna and Syifa engaged in active networking with global experts. They had the opportunity to meet directly with Prof. Dr. Christine Pascal, OBE, President of EECERA, and Prof. Dr. Tony Bertram, Editor-in-Chief of the European Early Childhood Education Research Journal (EECRJ). Discussions also explored the possibility of Assoc. Prof. Charyna serving as an EECERA country coordinator for Indonesia and contributing as a reviewer for EECRJ, a leading SSCI-rated journal.

Reflecting on their participation, the UIII delegation expressed hope that their contributions will strengthen Indonesia’s voice in international academic conversations on early childhood education. “We believe our work can support broader efforts to advance inclusive, empathetic, and sustainable practices in ECE,” said Assoc. Prof. Charyna.

The EECERA Annual Conference, recognized as one of the largest gatherings of early childhood education researchers worldwide, continues to serve as a vital arena for dialogue, critical inquiry, and collaboration. This year’s theme underscored the urgency of building educational systems that embrace diversity, support teacher wellbeing, and uphold the rights of every child.