Aqila Keisyarani, a 2023 batch student from the Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (Psychology UGM), was selected to represent UGM at the TF-NUS LEaRN 2025 (Leadership Enrichment and Regional Networking) program, a leadership development initiative organized by the National University of Singapore (NUS) and fully supported by Temasek Foundation.
The TF-NUS LEaRN program seeks to nurture leadership potential among Asia’s youth by offering cross-cultural experiences, regional networking opportunities, and future-oriented leadership training.
“This year, the program’s main focus is on community leadership and sustainability in Southeast Asia, explored through future thinking,” Keisyarani explained in an interview on Wednesday (Aug. 20).
Spanning three weeks, the program is divided into two principal modules.
The first, Hidden Communities and Community Leadership, addresses community leadership dynamics in ASEAN, tackling contemporary challenges like social disparities, generational gaps, and rapid societal changes.
“In this module, participants, including myself, learn how modern community leadership can transform such challenges into opportunities through empathetic, thoughtful, and purpose-driven approaches,” she added.
The second module, “Future of Community Development in Southeast Asia,” introduces future-thinking frameworks and approaches to equip participants in designing long-term strategies for community development.
During sessions, attendees analyze future trends, understand driving forces of change, and craft policy scenarios based on strategic insights.
Keisyarani emphasised that what distinguishes this program from many others is the direct engagement with local communities in Singapore.
Participants don’t just gain theoretical knowledge; they experience firsthand how community development initiatives are implemented and make a tangible impact.
“This experience is invaluable to me, as it broadened my understanding of leadership founded on empathy and cross-sector collaboration,” she said
Beyond skills development, this opportunity enabled her to build friendships and collaborations with students from various ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei Darussalam, and Vietnam.
“Only seven Indonesian students from higher education institutions such as UGM, UI, ITB, UNAIR, IPB, and ITS participated, and I am proud to have been the sole representative of Universitas Gadjah Mada,” Keisyarani concluded.
Author: Lintang Andwyna
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographs: Aqila Keisyarani