Year: 2012

Attending Congress of Indonesian Diaspora in LA

There is no better way to tell a story to tell than that story in pictures. So, please click on the image below to find out the story.

The above photo was taken after the Declaration of Indonesian Diaspora in the closure of the Congress of Indonesian Diaspora in Los Angeles Convention Center, United States, 6 – 8 July 2012. People in the photo: Ambassador to the United States, Dino Patti Djalal (left), Deputy Speaker of the House, Priyo Budi Santoso (second from left) and Rector of the University Paramadina, Anies Baswedan (right). Can you find me in the above photo?

The following are the photos of when I was involved as a panelist in Education and Innovation section together with Prof. Yohanes Surya, Dr. Anies Baswedan, Prof. Herry Utomo, Prof. Taufik, Dr. Tik Tan and Mr. Ismail Budhiarso in the Congress of Indonesian Diaspora.

The following is a video of the Declaration of the Indonesian Diaspora. I am one reader of the declaration.

University Presidents Forum 2012

UTM hosted the fourth edition of the University Presidents Forum on May 6, in conjunction with the 48th Convocation Ceremony of the university on May 7 and 8. Keynote speakers of the forum include Professor Dewi Fortuna Anwar, Deputy Secretary of the Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia for Political Affairs and the Chairman of the Institute for Democracy and Human Rights, The Habibie Centre; Anthony J. Sinskey, Professor of Microbiology and Health Sciences and Technology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Sara Farley, Chief Operating Officer of Global Knowledge Initiative (GKI). Participants of the forum deliberated on issues affecting respective higher education institutions within the theme of the forum, “Innovative. Entrepreneurial. Global.” The forum is also a showcase of the university’s commitment to forging more significant partnerships with its foreign counterparts.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/hadinur/sets/72157629633848286

Business trip to Tanjung Pinang

I, Assoc. Prof. Mohamad Bilal Ali and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yusof Boon represent UTM in the MoU signing ceremony with the Riau Islands Province. We are also invited to dinner by the Regent of Bintan, Mr. Ansar Ahmad, at Nirwana Bintan Resort. I want to thank Mr. Ansar, who has provided accommodation for us in Bintan Nirwana Resort. Acknowledgments are also due to the head of Teluk Sebong sub-district, Ms. Ramlah, who has accompanied us during our stay in Bintan.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/hadinur/sets/72157629591182790

Media – The second God

Although Tony Schwartz‘s book was published 28 years ago, in my opinion, is still relevant to the present situation where the media plays an extremely important and very crucial in the social life of the human. Social media like Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter greatly affected the social life of modern humans today.

“Who controls the media, he will rule the world,” in my opinion, is a correct statement. It means that, as intelligent human beings, we must be brilliant in choosing which information from the media is essential, useful, and honest.

Sometimes the intention of news is not to educate but to propaganda, directing public opinion and also aims to power. For the latter, clearly that the media used for the game of political power. Politicians need popularity, and the media is a tool for them: the news lies and nonsense. Sometimes just exaggerating things that do not need to be reported. Exaggerate the achievements that are not achievements. This phenomenon is also found in the academic world in universities, which should be honest and wise. Therefore, common sense alone is not sufficient to absorb the news; the wisdom to see the context of the story is also required.