The Mathematics Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), University of Mataram, actively participated in an international public lecture organized by the Research Group in Mathematics Education, University of Cambridge, on October 15, 2025. The lecture was conducted online, from 4:30 to 5:30 PM (UK time). Due to the seven-hour time difference between Lombok and the UK, the participating lecturers had to stay up late to attend the session in full.
Despite the late-night schedule, the lecturers demonstrated great enthusiasm and actively followed the entire session. The keynote speaker for the event was Professor Manu Kapur, Director of the Singapore-ETH Centre and Professor of Learning Sciences and Higher Education at ETH Zurich, Switzerland.
In his presentation titled “Productive Failure: Unlocking Deeper Learning Through the Science of Failing,” Professor Kapur discussed the concept of Productive Failure, an instructional approach that deliberately incorporates failure as a key element of the deep learning process.
One of the highlights of the lecture was when Professor Kapur posed a reflective question to the audience:
“If learning from failure is intuitively compelling, why do we wait for it to happen? Why don’t we intentionally design for it, and harness it for deep learning?”
He elaborated on how, when, and why intentionally designed failure can foster more meaningful learning experiences. The discussion also explored its implications for designing learning environments that promote conceptual understanding, creativity, and knowledge transfer skills.
This public lecture provided a valuable learning experience for the lecturers of the Mathematics Education Study Program FKIP Universitas Mataram, enriching their perspectives on innovative teaching strategies and strengthening their academic network with the global mathematics education research community.
