A Comfortable Learning Environment Supports Students' Physical and Mental Health

Fri, 22 May 2026, 13:22 WIB | By indrastuti | Source: MEDIA_INDONESIA | Social Policy

Indonesia’s education system from a regulatory perspective is already fairly ready to face the changes of the times. However, human resource development still needs to be enhanced to adapt to technological developments and future industrial needs.

“From a regulatory standpoint we are actually ready, but from the humans resources side we still need development. That means, we must keep learning, learning, and learning,” said Prof Sylviana Murni, Rector of STIAMI, at the Education, Ergonomics & Innovation Symposium 2026 in Jakarta, on Thursday (21/5).

According to her, to be able to adapt to technological developments and future industry needs, improving the quality of education should not only focus on HR, but also consider infrastructure, physical and mental health, and the creation of an education ecosystem that supports it.

Sylviana said that amid rising issues of mental health and student burnout, a comfortable and ergonomic learning environment becomes a crucial factor in supporting learning quality.

“If our bodies are healthy, our brains will be smarter. But if our bodies are not healthy, what we think about is the pain, not how to increase knowledge,” she said.

For that, she praised the cooperation of various parties, including higher education institutions and partners from Japan in developing ergonomic school equipment that supports students’ physical and mental health.

She also mentioned the involvement of the Creative Economy Ministry as a strategic step to spur the creation of ergonomics-based product innovations.

Restog Krisna Kusuma, Special Staff to the Minister for Financing and Funding at the Creative Economy Ministry, added that amid the development of artificial intelligence and digital technology, the younger generation must keep learning to stay competitive, especially in the creative economy sector.

“There is no other story besides studying and mastering the development of technology itself,” he said.

He emphasised that ergonomic product design is one of the sub-sectors of the creative economy with great growth potential in Indonesia. Therefore, the authorities continue to push for collaboration with various associations and international partners to produce education products that are child-friendly and ergonomic so that learning processes for Indonesia’s younger generation can be more comfortable, healthy, and effective.

The Education, Ergonomics & Innovation Symposium 2026 was conducted interactively over four hours, attended by around 200 participants from government, academia, parent communities, and industry.

The event discussed the real impacts of school bag loads, posture, and learning comfort on student performance and health, and how research- and technology-based solutions can address these challenges.

President & CEO of the Indonesia Research Institute Japan, Albertus Prasetyo Heru Nugroho, added that the event serves as a cross-sector forum uniting government, academia, health practitioners, educational institutions, and industry in a single collaborative space to discuss the importance of ergonomics in supporting education quality and children’s development in Indonesia.

“Through this symposium, we also want to open real dialogue between industry, academia, and government. Ergonomics is not only about products, but also about investments in the quality of life and the future of our children’s learning,” he said.

He hopes the Education, Ergonomics & Innovation Symposium 2026 marks a new chapter in efforts to build a healthier, more imaginative, and globally competitive Indonesian education ecosystem.

“We also hope the symposium becomes a starting point for long-term collaboration among industry, government, and academia in creating the best possible learning environment for the next generation,” he concluded. (H-2)

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