In the ever-evolving world of education, innovation is the key to creating a generation ready to face future challenges. On January 24, 2025, Riza Susanti, S.T., M.T., a lecturer in the Civil Infrastructure Engineering and Architectural Design Study Program at the Vocational School of Diponegoro University, won the “Bronze Winner Best Innovative Lecturer in Education” award. This award was given in recognition of her achievements and innovations in teaching through the 2024 Undip Performance Achievement Award event.
Riza Susanti is known for her interactive and applicable teaching methods. She is committed to conveying theory and inviting students to be directly involved in real projects. By integrating case studies, Riza Susanti creates a dynamic learning atmosphere so that students are invited to think critically and creatively. Responding to the challenges faced by today’s Generation Z students, who tend to think practically, like visual things, and are very familiar with technology, Riza Susanti feels compelled to innovate in delivering material so that the teaching and learning process can occur more effectively. Through active learning, Riza Susanti applies case-based, problem-based, and project-based learning methods that give students the freedom to be creative and utilize technology in every assignment, such as pouring it into posters and other visualizations. In addition to applying the problem-based method, Riza Susanti also applies the case-based learning method in almost all her civil engineering courses. By utilizing real cases or simulations based on data and problems faced in the field, students can analyze, find solutions, and make decisions that will provide a more realistic picture of the world of work. In addition to implementing active learning in teaching through case-based, problem-based, and project-based learning methods in courses, since 2020, Riza Susanti has also been actively innovating in teaching by utilizing the latest online media for discussions in class, such as Jamboard, Kahoot, and Padlet by adapting lecture materials into other forms, such as online games or illustrated stories such as comics, which are usually given before class starts to arouse students’ enthusiasm and enthusiasm for the material to be studied. In addition to actively innovating the learning process, Riza Susanti is also actively sharing on her personal YouTube channel, which already has +8,000 subscribers. This interesting YouTube channel contains lecture materials and other activities related to the academic world, such as community service activities. With this experience and encouraging results, Riza Susanti is committed to continuing to develop innovative learning methods. She believes that a good education can adapt to students’ needs and characteristics. Thus, she hopes to contribute more to improving the quality of education.