Establishing an International Student Organization, PLKI: UIN Jakarta Ready to Go Global
Syahida Inn, UIN News Online - The Center for International Cooperation Services (PLKI) held a Focused Group Discussion (FGD) on the formation of international organizations entitled “Strategic Role of International Student Associations in Accelerating UIN Jakarta's Internationalization” at Madya 1 Conference Room, Syahida Inn, Friday (11/10/2024).
This activity was attended by 15 international student representatives from various countries and was also attended by the Chairperson of PLKI UIN Jakarta, Prof. Maila Dinia Husni Rahiem, Vice Rector for Cooperation and Institutional Affairs, Din Wahid, M.A., Ph.D., and Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Prof. Ali Munhanif, M.A., Ph.D.,
Chairperson of PLKI, UIN Jakarta, Prof. Maila Dinia Husni Rahiem, revealed the purpose of this FGD is a forum to gather the massive interest of international students who want to study at UIN Jakarta.
“Currently, UIN Jakarta has international students from 19 countries. There are representatives from Thailand, Cambodia, Uzbekistan, China, Mexico, Turkey, Gambia, South America, Afghanistan and many more,” said Prof. Maila. The chairman and vice chairman have been elected, continued Prof. Maila, in the near future this organization will soon be activated.
The need to form an international student organization is increasingly urgent because every year the number of international students increases significantly. “Every year we (UIN Jakarta) accept 30-50 new international students,” said the Chairperson of PLKI.
The female professor of UIN Jakarta who is included in the Top 2% Scientists Worldwide said, in addition to a forum to help facilitate, ISA is also expected to encourage UIN Jakarta to Go International.
In line with that, Vice Rector (Warek) for Cooperation and Institutional Affairs, Din Wahid, M.A., Ph.D., said the formation of ISA can also accommodate student creativity through various activities such as introducing cultural diversity in each student's home country.
“Through this ISA, you can show your abilities and creativity such as traditional dances from your respective countries,” said the Vice Rector for Cooperation and Institutional Affairs when asked to give a speech.
Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Prof. Ali Munhanif, M.A., Ph.D., added that the formation of this international student organization is important because of the mandate of the Rector to bring UIN Jakarta to a World Class University. According to him, ISA will bring UIN Jakarta's reputation in the international eyes so that a strategy is needed in organizing activities that will be carried out.
Prof. Ali hopes ISA can network not only with fellow international students but also local students. “This is important to do so that local students also have an international thinking framework,” said Prof. Ali.
Furthermore, Prof. Ali revealed that ISA can also play a role in introducing moderate Islamic understanding to a wider range of international students.
“Moderate Islamic understanding is indeed taught in 13 faculties at UIN Jakarta. That is not enough, we want more than that,” he said when giving a speech and officially opening the FGD.
Furthermore, the first session of the FGD began with the delivery of material from the President of the International Students Association University of Birmingham 2017-2018, Redita Aliyah Bsc., Msc entitled “The Needs and Challenges of International Student Association”.
Meanwhile, the second session was filled with sharing from UIN Jakarta student, Deon Valentino, about “Building Organizing Structure and Strategy Implementation”.
The last session was closed by exchanging ideas while designing the vision-mission, targets, needs, and challenges of the formation of international student organizations that will be faced in the future.
Photo Documentation:
(Aji Pangestu/Fauziah M./Dzihan Aufa KilmiFirdausi/Aryo D. Penangsang, Hermanudin)