Two students of UGM participated in the Inter-Nationalism Student Progressive Resolution Exchange (INSPIRE) Malaysia 2016 in Kuala Lumpur from 16 to 19 August 2016. The two students were Anisa Parazulfa (Biology-2012) and Layfanifa Jihan Rifka (Geomatics Engineering-2015). Malaysia INSPIRE 2016 was a student exchange program organized by Gotravindo. The program was held with the aim of providing opportunities for Indonesian students to learn about leadership and business innovation as they are key to the development of the Asean Economic Community (AEC). INSPIRE Malaysia 2016 was attended by 40 students from all over Indonesia.
For four days, participants were invited to explore everyday life and the economy in Malaysia. On the first day, participants were invited to explore the area of the city called Putrajaya. "Participants are challenged to conduct some interviews on various topics with foreigners residing in the complex around Putrajaya," Anisa said in a media release sent on Monday (5/9).
Furthermore, in the second day, the participants had the opportunity to join Indonesia's Independence Day ceremony at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia for Malaysia. The ceremony was not only attended by the staff of the Embassy, but also Indonesian citizens who live in Kuala Lumpur. "The spirit of nationalism in the ceremony was palpable, especially because it was held in a foreign country," she recalls.
Anisa explained that, after the ceremony, she and the other participants were invited to visit the Royal Selangor Pewter Factory which is famous for the production and processing of tin in Malaysia. Participants went to the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) to attend workshops and International discussions. A workshop with the theme 'Relations between Nations in the Framework of Global Welfare' was delivered by one of the lecturers at IIUM. "At that event, we were also discussing with IIUM students about global education," she said.
On the third day, participants were introduced to the concept of business innovation while visiting Central Market, the center for souvenirs in Malaysia. Participants were challenged to sell handicraft products made in Indonesia to the Central Market visitors who are mostly foreigners. "Here, participants first analyze the price of the same type craft, then they try to sell the products at a higher price," she said.
Vice Dean of Academic and Student Affairs of the Faculty of Biology at UGM, Dr. Budi Setiadi Daryono, M.Agr.Sc., welcomes and supports the activities of INSPIRE as a provision for students to learn leadership and business innovation development, especially in the era of the Asean Economic Community.