As many as 61 students from 15 countries are planned to follow the International Students Summer Program called DREaM organized by UGM. The activity will be held in Yogyakarta for 14 days, 1 to 14 July 2012. The fifteen countries that will send students are South Africa, Argentina, Australia, Netherlands, Brunei Darussalam, China, Denmark, Indonesia, Japan, Germany, Malaysia, Egypt, Nigeria, New Zealand, and Vietnam.
Vice Rector’s Assistant or Foreign Cooperation, Dr. Eng. R. Rachmat A. Sriwijaya, S.T, M.T, said the DREaM program aims to provide academic and socio-cultural experience to the participants. In addition, the program is also intended to create mutual understanding among participants from different countries, who will become world leaders in the future.
DREaM program was initiated in 2009 by UGM and conducted again in 2010 and 2011. In this year, DREaM takes theme "Alternative Education". "The theme is taken in accordance with UGM's mission to contribute to the community development, particularly through DREaM’s education," Rachmat said, Monday (26/6), in Stana Parahita UGM.
Rachmat mentioned DREaM this time would like to introduce innovative approaches and methods in providing education and instruction for each group of community. All participants will be involved in various activities designed specifically to provide in-depth understanding about the theme through public lectures, tutorials, community service, and short internship.
DREaM 2012 Project Coordinator, Dea Kristina added, in addition to following the academic activities, all participants will also be invited to visit some tourist and cultural attractions in Yogyakarta and surrounding areas. "Visiting a number of attractions in Yogyakarta is also as promotion of tourism and culture of Indonesia, especially Yogyakarta," she said.
Meanwhile, for the community service (field practice) will be conducted in Wukirsari, Imogiri, Bantul. Participants will stay at residents’ houses for about four days to know the local community better. "Participants will also be invited to study in the field by doing short Internships to a number of institutions in Yogyakarta, such as Tumbuh Elementary School, Mualimin Islamic School, Yakkum, Cemara Community, and Kampung Halaman Foundation," she added.
DREaM 2012 will present several speakers, among others, Angela Kearney (UNICEF), M. Farhan (Cinta Anak Bangsa Foundation), and Zamzam Fauzannafi (Kampung Halaman ) in a public lecture session. In addition, it will also present Butet Manurung, pioneer and alternative educator of Kubu Tribe in Bukit Du Belas National Park, Jambi, to share knowledge and experiences with participants of DREAM 2012.