UIN Jakarta Launches International Alumni Forum to Strengthen Global Network
Main Conference Room, UIN News Online - International Cooperation Service Center (PLKI) held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) in order to establish the UIN Jakarta International Alumni Association with the theme “Strengthening Global Network: Alumni Contributions to International Student Success” in the Main Conference Room, Rectorate Building, Thursday (31/10/2024).
In her speech, the Head of PLKI, Prof. Maila Dinia Husni Rahiem M.A., Ph.D. revealed that the formation of this international alumni forum is the first step in welcoming the campus internationalization program. According to her, the organization is important as a forum to accommodate UIN Jakarta international student alumni who have the potential to become leaders in the future.
“Last time I visited Cambodia, there are international student alumni who have become Deputy Ministers,” said Prof. Maila.
Furthermore, the Professor of Early Childhood Education and Social Welfare said that in addition to the global level, at the national level UIN Jakarta alumni also occupy many strategic positions in this country.
“There are three Ministers and one Governor of Lemhanas (National Defense Institute) from UIN Jakarta who were appointed in the Red and White Cabinet a few weeks ago,” They are, continued Prof. Maila, ”Nasarudin Umar, Abdul Muthi, Raja Juli Antoni and Ace Hasan Syadzili.”
Not only that, the presence of UIN Jakarta alumni in many places, explained Prof. Maila, can be read as an opportunity that UIN Jakarta has considerable strength to build networks both at the international, national and local levels.
Former Head of PLKI Prof. Rahmat Baihaqi on the occasion was invited as a speaker to give direction to the International UIN Jakarta Alumni Association. He emphasized that the efforts to form the organization will bring many benefits.
“One of them is as the first academic identity that will shape how a person thinks and acts in the future,” he said.
The alumni organization, said Prof. Rahmat, is based on professionalism, kinship and scientific values. The latter, according to him, must be taken more seriously. He hopes the new organization can be more productive by publishing research results at least twice a semester.
“We want this organization to have study materials, academic activities and of course pocket money,” said Prof. Rahmat.
In line with Prof. Rahmat, President of Indonesia Student Society in Greater Manchester (PPI-GM) 2016/2017, Fidhzariyan Utama shared the needs and challenges in creating an international student alumni organization.
Aya, Fidhzariyan Utama's nickname, said that there are several things needed in forming a new organization. Some of them include setting the mission and goals of the organization, developing organizational membership, preparing communication channels, creating routine work programs and identifying funding sources.
The challenges that need to be considered include managing diverse cultures, being open-minded, encouraging the involvement of students who have busy schedules and having a committed membership to manage the organization effectively.
Furthermore, the event was followed by an internal FGD and question and answer session that discussed the organizational structure, vision and mission, work programs and tracking the data base of international student alumni who have studied at UIN Jakarta.
For information, the event was attended by international student representatives from 19 countries. Also present on the occasion were international student representatives from Thailand, Cambodia, Uzbekistan, China, Mexico, Turkey, Gambia, South America, Afghanistan and many more.
(Aji Pangestu/Fauziah M./Dzihan Aufa Kilmi Firdausi/Photos: M. Fahri Afrizal, Hermanudin)