UMS Holds Career Counseling Workshop Using Deep Learning

In an effort to improve the quality of career guidance for students, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) held a workshop titled "Strategi Deep Learning dalam Konseling Karier: Menjembatani Siswa ke Perguruan Tinggi" featuring education expert Dr. Laili Etika Rahmawati, S.Pd., M.Pd., as the keynote speaker.

Held on Tuesday (20/5/2025) at the Seminar Room of the Siti Walidah Main Building, the event was attended by dozens of guidance and counseling teachers from UMS partner schools.

Laili began her presentation by revealing a staggering fact about the younger generation’s habits, spending an average of seven hours a day playing games and browsing social media. She noted that educators today face their toughest competition not from one another, but from the attention-grabbing algorithms of digital platforms.

The lecturer of Indonesian Language and Literature Education at UMS then elaborated on the distinction between surface learning and deep learning in the context of career counseling. “We can no longer rely on conventional counseling methods. The deep learning approach offers a solution to these challenges,” she emphasized during her talk, Tuesday (20/5/2025).

Workshop participants are paying attention to the speaker's presentation, May 20, 2025. Luqman Hakim/UMS Public Relations

Surface learning, she explained, is reflected in students choosing majors simply by following peers or based on short-term practicality, without a true understanding of their passions or potential. On the other hand, deep learning is a meaningful learning process that involves deep reflection on personal values and long-term goals, it is reflective, integrated, and systematic.

"This deep learning approach will help students find meaning, purpose, and their unique rights," she continued.

On the other hand, Laili also highlighted the rising trend of "self-branding" on social media among the younger generation. She even encountered a case where a student sacrificed basic needs just to buy the latest gadget for social recognition. "This is a serious challenge in fostering authentic career awareness," she said.

The workshop not only covered theoretical insights but also offered various practical methods that could be directly applied in schools. Laili demonstrated a technique for writing personal reflection journals, which can help students understand their interests and potential.

A career project method was also introduced, where students are encouraged to interview alumni to understand the realities of the working world, as well as engage in simulations of various professions. The participants' enthusiasm was evident during the Q&A session.

The event, which ran from morning until early afternoon, concluded with a shared commitment to implement deep learning strategies in career guidance at each school. UMS plans to continue this collaboration through a series of follow-up workshops with more specific topics.

Writer: Genis Dwi Gustati

Editor: Fika Annisa Sholihah

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid