The Himmpas (Muslim Post-Graduate Student Association of UGM) organisation and the East Asia Study Group, UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, hold a cross-cultural discussion on the theme To Know is To Love along with several students from the U.S. and India. The discussion that took place in the Multimedia Room was attended by about 70 students of S-3, S-2, and S-1 programs, presenting keynote speakers Kellyan S. Corners, Jillian Shedneck, Mike Bender, Zeyneb Temenko, Keongjil, and Lemwang Chuhwanglim. "They are present as the party who provides an overview of the implementation of education, especially in America and India," said Chairman of the Steering Committee, Asih Minanti Rahayu, Monday (18/7).
In the event, which is also supported by the CRCS (Center for Cultural and Religious Studies), ICRS (Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies) Graduate School, PMII (Indonesian Islamic Students Movement), IMM (Muhammadiyah Student Association), Ibn Khaldun, and Al-Khwarizmi, alternately American students briefly present their university where they study: Union Theological Seminary, Temple University, Florida International University, Adelaide University, and education in India. After that, the Indonesian students presented the profile of the IMM and PMII.
According to Asih, the event managed to bridge the interests of Indonesian students in their interest to information about education in the West and opinion of Western student about Islam in Indonesia as well as the interests of Western students who want to learn culture and Islam in Indonesia. As stated by Corners, by assimilating and discussing directly with the Muslims in Indonesia, they become aware of Islam in reality, something different from what is obtained from the book. "With the right and clear information about Islam and Indonesia, later we will also share it with friends and family in the U.S.," he said.
On the other hand, students from the PMII and IMM presented the organization’s profile. Two different focuses are intentionally given to the two speakers because the purpose is also different. On the one hand, the American students want to learn more about the culture and Islam in Indonesia, while Indonesian students need information about education in Western countries (United States) relating to the interests of scholarship and advanced study in the future.