Diniya 1,2, Muslim 1,*, Rika Rafikah Agustin 1, and
Rini Solihat 1
1. Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Bandung, Indonesia
2. Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Syarif Kasim Riau, Pekanbaru, Indonesia
Email: diniya@upi.edu (D.); muslim@upi.edu (M.); rafikahrika@upi.edu (R.R.A.); rinisolihat@upi.edu (R.S.)
*Corresponding author
Manuscript received November 12, 2025; accepted January 8, 2026; published May 26, 2026.
Abstract—Creativity, widely recognized as one of the most critical 21st-century skills indispensable for navigating uncertainty and complexity, is vital to nurture within higher education systems in developing countries like Indonesia to equip students with the skills needed to thrive in future work environments. This study examines the understanding of creativity definition among Science Pre-Service Teachers (SPST) in Indonesia and explores the challenges they encounter in developing creative skills during their higher education. The research used an online questionnaire to collect data on SPST’s understanding of creativity, their engagement in creative tasks, and the obstacles they faced. The findings reveal that while a significant number of students have yet to produce creative works, those who have done so acknowledge the substantial value of creativity in their tasks. Key barriers to creativity include insufficient resources, limited practical experience, and difficulties in generating innovative ideas. Additionally, students emphasized the importance of a supportive learning environment, collaborative opportunities, and adequate facilities as essential for fostering creativity. The results highlight the urgent need for educational interventions that promote creativity, equipping SPST with the necessary tools and opportunities to enhance their creative abilities. This study contributes to the broader understanding of how creativity can be effectively integrated into science education, preparing future educators to address the challenges of the 21st century.
Keywords—creativity, science pre-service teacher, higher education
Cite: Diniya, Muslim*, Rika Rafikah Agustin, and Rini Solihat, "Perceptions, Barriers, and Possibilities: Exploring Creativity in Science Pre-Service Teacher Education," International Journal of Social Science and Humanity, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 84-92, 2026.
Copyright © 2026 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (
CC BY 4.0).