Hundreds of new students majoring in International Relations UGM, Saturday (21/8) received a debriefing from the former Speaker of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) who is also Professor of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, UGM, Prof. Dr. M. Amien Rais, M.A. The public lecture was held at the Faculty's postgraduate building. Amien Rais hoped that those students can optimize their time to learn and gain knowledge on campus. In addition to time management and English language command, the Internet is now essential to succeed in the study, even later when entering the working environment.
"Some of the key things that must be mastered by International Relations students in addition to time management is English and the Internet, because now we've come to globalization era," Amien conveyed. To achieve this, the students need to work hard while studying on campus. Amien also advised the students that despite their hard work, they must still uphold the social spirit and togetherness.
"Even if you like spending time to read books, don’t become an anti-social. Social sensitivities should always be maintained," he explained. When answering student’s questions about how to keep intellectual and idealism acquired in college remain neutral and conserved, Amien said that there are three principles. First, the social responsibility, ethics (moral values), and religious principles in a consistent manner. "It's not easy to keep idealism. But at least three basic principles: social responsibility, morals, and principles of religion/the deity must be maintained," he explained.
Amien Rais said, the idealism of an intellectual can be quickly co-opted when dealing with power. Idealism and intellect can always support the status quo if they do not hold the three principles that he mentioned earlier. The public lecture was attended by hundreds of new students and several lecturers, hosted by the Head of International Relations Department, Drs. Dafri Agussalim, M.A.