Mandarin Language Program Lecturers Join Seminar on “Gen Z in the Classroom” to Enhance Teaching Quality

Makassar, December 4, 2025 — The Directorate of Education at Hasanuddin University held a Refresher Seminar titled “Gen Z in the Classroom: Facing and Inspiring the Digital Generation” as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen the competence of educators across faculties. The event, held at the Prof. dr. Amiruddin Auditorium, Faculty of Medicine, brought together lecturers from various undergraduate programs, including those from the Mandarin Language and Chinese Culture Study Program.

The seminar featured Dr. Aisyah Dahlan, CMHt., CM.NLP., CI., a renowned consultant and neuroscience practitioner known for her applied psychology–based approaches. In her presentation, she discussed the characteristics of Generation Z—individuals who have grown up amidst rapid technological development—resulting in learning styles, thinking patterns, and interaction behaviors markedly different from previous generations. Gen Z tends to absorb information quickly, prefer visual content, and exhibit higher emotional sensitivity—key aspects that educators must consider when designing effective teaching strategies.

Dr. Aisyah also introduced the concept of humans as an integrated unity of mind, body, and soul. Using a “hardware and software” analogy, she explained how memories, emotions, and psychological conditions influence how students receive instructions and respond to classroom situations. This understanding encourages educators to be more empathetic and wise, as not all student behaviors should be immediately interpreted as disrespect or lack of commitment.

The seminar further explored differences in the functions of the left and right brain in males and females, which shape learning preferences and information-processing styles. These insights provide valuable guidance for educators—including Mandarin Language lecturers—to adapt their teaching methods to be more humanistic, responsive, and aligned with the demands of the digital era.

Through participation in this seminar, lecturers from the Mandarin Language Study Program gained practical insights ranging from understanding Gen Z characteristics to developing more effective communication styles. The knowledge acquired is expected to strengthen classroom learning processes and help create a more inspiring, inclusive, and relevant learning environment for today’s digital-generation students.