Bandung, September 13, 2025 – The Communication Studies Programme at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) has successfully concluded a landmark Adjunct Professor initiative, hosting Prof. Theresa Catalano, from the Department of Teaching, Learning & Teacher Education, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, United States. Running from August 31 to September 15, 2025, this visit was held under the auspices of the prestigious Fulbright Specialist program.
A Triumph of Academic Collaboration The realization of this high-impact visit is largely attributed to the dedicated efforts of Fathiyyah Maryufani, S.Psi., M.I.R., Ph.D.. Acting as the primary liaison and initiator, Ms. Maryufani successfully leveraged her enduring academic relationship with Prof. Catalano having previously served as her doctoral advisee to bridge UPI with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Ms. Maryufani’s crucial role in securing the Fulbright Specialist grant serves as a testament to her profound commitment to internationalization and academic excellence. Her initiative has not only brought a world-class scholar to Bandung but has also laid a solid foundation for future collaborations, including potential student exchanges, joint research, and visiting scholar programs.
Engaging the Academic Community Prof. Catalano’s activities, designed to foster multidisciplinary research and improve educational quality, spanned intensive lectures and workshops:
Public Lecture: The series commenced on Monday, September 8, 2025, with a lecture titled "Introduction to Critical Media Studies" at the 6th Floor Auditorium of the FPIPS Building. Drawing over 300 enthusiastic students, Prof. Catalano introduced theoretical tools from critical discourse studies (CDS) and social semiotics. She offered profound insights into how media practices are shaped by societal power structures and ideologies, emphasizing the need for critical media literacy in the digital age.
Faculty Development: On Tuesday, September 9, focus shifted to faculty enrichment with the workshop "The Importance of Interdisciplinary Research: Publishing in International Journals for Social Science and Humanities" in Room 103, Building A. Drawing on her extensive experience including her work on the Bloomsbury Handbook of Harmful Discourse Prof. Catalano guided lecturers through the complexities of the global publication landscape, aiming to boost UPI’s presence in high-impact journals.
Classroom Teaching: Prof. Catalano engaged directly with undergraduates on September 11 and 12, teaching "Media and Society" and "Introduction to Communication Studies." She brought global perspectives to the classroom, blending her expertise in applied linguistics and visual communication with local contexts.”
Reflections and Future Outlook Reflecting on her time at UPI, Prof. Catalano expressed her delight: “I am incredibly happy to meet and teach directly with the Communication Studies students; they were very active in class and demonstrated a high level of curiosity.”
This visit marks a significant milestone for the Communication Studies Programme. Thanks to the strategic vision of Ms. Fathiyyah Maryufani and the support of the Fulbright program, the department has successfully facilitated a knowledge exchange that meets global academic standards, ensuring that both students and faculty are better equipped to navigate the international academic arena.