UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) continues to produce graduates who make meaningful contributions to society, particularly in the education sector. One of them is Ani Christina, S.Psi., M.M., an alumna of the Faculty of Psychology, who has built an integrated psychological service ecosystem within schools.
Her career began as a school counselor, a role that later inspired her to establish a school-based psychology bureau. The initiative emerged from the challenges and opportunities she witnessed firsthand. She emphasized that psychology plays a crucial role in supporting the overall quality of education.
“Psychology graduates do far more than conduct counseling. In schools, counselors not only address psychological issues but also provide career guidance and design a wide range of development programs,” she said.
Applied expertise
In her counseling work, Christina noticed a growing need for additional therapeutic support for students. Although she faced various hurdles, she was motivated to create a more sustainable system through a psychology bureau operating within the school environment. “The first challenge was staffing. Psychologists often already have their own practices, so recruiting them into educational institutions is not easy. There is also the challenge of building collaboration between therapists and psychologists, both in management and in day-to-day practice,” she explained.
Christina now also works as an education consultant and author. Her expertise spans designing child development programs and shaping branding strategies for educational institutions. She also develops assessment systems for schools and universities. More than ten institutions have relied on her to design student admissions processes, teacher selection systems, and institutional development mapping.
“Psychology is extremely practical when used to understand human potential. We help institutions create input and development maps. Schools often focus only on academics, when psychological assessments are essential for character building. I also tailor each assessment design based on the specific values and needs of the institution,” she said.
Driving impact in education
Her contributions continue to grow as more institutions request her support in designing character education programs, long-term teacher training, and parent education initiatives. To expand her reach further, she uses her writing as an additional avenue for impact. “Hundreds of schools have benefited from these trainings. I have written more than 50 books, with tens of thousands of copies in circulation.
“To broaden access, especially for schools that are far away or unable to fund training, we offer the books instead. They can learn independently. I am grateful to have an exceptional team behind me, which helps ensure each book is written based on real needs,” she said.
In closing, she shared her hopes for her alma mater. “Who else will strengthen this nation if not through education? I truly hope the Faculty of Psychology continues to produce research, community programs, and curricula that can be applied directly in education. I also hope the faculty encourages its graduates to dedicate themselves to the education sector,” she concluded.
Author: Mohammad Adif Albarado
Editor: Ragil Kukuh Imanto
