Today there are several things that pose a challenge to higher education in Indonesia, namely intolerance, bullying and sexual violence. These problems not only hinder the realization of a conducive learning environment but also cause polemics in student psychology. All three are serious problems in the campus environment that must be prevented by providing understanding to the academic community through proper management. But it is undeniable that problems related to mental health also often occur to students, such as stress, anxiety, burnout, easy to give up, and so on. In fact, these conditions have the potential to affect their ability to carry out lectures, both directly and indirectly. Through guidance and counseling training for academic adviser lecturers, (24-27/7), Universitas Brawijaya is committed to carrying out its role as an educational institution and also strengthening student character.
In his remarks, Vice Rector III for Student Affairs, Alumni and Entrepreneurship, Dr. Setiawan Noerdajasakti SH, MH, said that tertiary institutions should positively shape the moral and ethics of students in addition to increasing scientific knowledge academically. These values begin to erode little by little along with technological advances and changing times, where all three must be maintained, especially in the world of education. Students will become human beings with dignity in the future if adab and knowledge can walk together in their daily lives, implement them in society and contribute to civilization.
Ulifa Rahma, S.Psi, M.Psi as the Head of Counseling, Prevention of Sexual Violence and Bullying Sub-Directorate said the purpose of this activity was to help with problems experienced with various variables, such as mental health issues, student psychological management, and decreased individual resilience. Until now, the phenomenon of family, academic and social issues is common in student conflicts, causing demotivation to depression. Conflicts in family demands for study that students feel because they are not in accordance with their wishes, bullying, especially fellow students both physically and mentally, a crisis of confidence in oneself making it difficult to make decisions is a general description of student problems that often appear to the surface. Indirectly, problems like this can have an impact on academic grades and even learning interactions in class. Therefore, a communicative counseling procedure is needed, placing a sense of comfort in communicating becomes a relevant strategy for giving attention, or at least growing self-confidence. “Academic companion lecturers can also direct their students through the development of interests and talents, where this competency is also a way to re-create the enthusiasm for learning,” he said.
There are several parameters of the counseling approach that can be used to help reveal student problems, including conducting client observation skills, where the counselor’s skills for observing students, especially being able to find out-of-sync between gestures and conversation content. Prioritizing empathy, attending behavior in order to foster a sense of trust when students express their grievances. Exploring problems through clarification and identification processes then conveying information and recommendations to students during consultations. “Counseling is a means of improving individual abilities in their social relations, inviting them to adapt to various circumstances, encouraging them to make decisions independently and creating interactions towards changing behavior for the better,” he concluded. [UB PR/ Trans. Iir]
