Berita

 

 
 
 
 
 
Master of International Relations Department of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta held a study visit to Thung Song District, Sourthern Thailand. The objective of the agenda is to introduce MIHI to the international academic institutions. As the part of the programs; the representatives of MIHI; Dr. Surwandono, Dr. Ahmad Sahide and MIHI students; Rizki Dian Nursita, Rizqi Apriani Putri, Riani Septi Hertini, Dhany Putra Pratama, and Andika Raka Dianjaya attended an international seminar entitled Learning Culture, Environment, and Education: Linking Existing Network for Social and Economic Development at Thung Song School, Thailand, on April 18, 2019.
The event was attended by a number of representatives of schools and universities from Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. The event which lasted for two days discussed about development issues that became a concern of the people in Thailand. Thung Song District is known for its capability in waste-management. A number of students from elementary school to high school convey their aspirations regarding a number of issues related to development; environment, education, waste-management, gender equality, SDGs, and others.
At the opening of the second session of the forum, Dr. Saiful Mahdi from Syiah Kuala University, Aceh, mentioned that Indonesia has several regulations on waste-management. However, Indonesia still fails to implement and enforce the law on waste-management. Indonesia, particularly Aceh, could learn from Thung Song about waste-management.
In the second session, the ASEAN Student Forum, Rizki Dian Nursita, from the University of Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta conveyed the importance of the ASEAN Student Forum in actualizing the ASEAN Community, as well as the problems that hindered its progress.
Dr. Ahmad Sahide also conveyed the importance of such academic forums, as well as conferences to introduce inter-state cultures, whether through face-to-face forum or using digital communication.
Dr. Surwandono also added the importance of a forum that discussed the issue of peace and conflict that developed in the community.
The second day of the program was tour and festival. Thailand has a Batik Village that produces distinctive batik with its florist style.
The representatives from Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia performed their respective arts and culinary. All the foods served during the festival is made of 1,067 kilograms of “Laksa”. Laksa seems to become the shared identity for Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The art and culinary festival was also attended by the Thung Song’s Mayor, as well as a number of Thung Song local people. It has proven that gastrodiplomacy is considered amusing by people from diverse nations.
Although this is the first experience for MIHI UMY, this forum is the first step in further collaboration with international academic institutions, and the formation of the formation of the ASEAN Academic Forum with a number of universities in Southeast Asia.