Following is a report of the establishing Okayama University International Alumni Association (OUIAA) Indonesia Branch which held on August 21th, 2014 at University of Indonesia, Depok, Indonesia.
In 2013 Okayama University international Office through Ms. Yoshiko NAKASHIMA contacted former students : Dr. Anom Bowolaksono (university of Indonesia/ UI), Prof Hadi Susilo Arifin (Bogor University /IPB) and Dr. Lukman Hakim (University of Brawijaya/ UB) to inform about the possibility to establish OUIAA Indonesia branch. Dr. Anom Bowolaksono from UI replied the email that sent by, and tried to initiate the establishment of branch by asked me to come to Okayama as a representative of Indonesia branch to attend the 3rd general assembly and international symposium of Okayama University International Alumni Association which was held at Okayama University from 18 to 20 October 2013.
Came back from Okayama, International office gave guidance about the required items for the establishment ceremony of OUIAA branch office such as (1).Determination of the date for the establishment ceremony of the branch office; (2).Determination of the venue for the branch establishment ceremony; (3).Making the list of participants; (4).The structure of branch executives. Intensive communication has been done between m and Ms. Yoshiko NAKASHIMA and then continued by Ms Sanae Matsuzawa for the establishment ceremony, later also between Dr. Anom bowolaksono and Prof. Masumi Oka and Ms Sanae Matsuzawa. Dr. Anom Bowolaksono focus on communication about establishment date with Okayama University while I am focus on communication with alumni members in Indonesia, tried to make contact with alumni members.
Actually it was difficult for members to come together to do meeting about the establishment of branch because alumni came from different area of Indonesia, and most of them are lecturers in different Indonesia universities and research centers. Finally we found way by using social media to facilitate the discussion and communication among members in a WhatsApp (WA) Groups, we call “ Okadai”. The WA group establishment was initiated by Dr Gatot Dwiyanto from Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT). Through this WA group, and the intense communication with Okayama international office finally the Inauguration date is decided. . On August 21th, 2014 at Meeting room of Pertamina- Center Of Excellence (COE) building, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Indonesia. Depok, Indonesia, the former Indonesian students, who have ever studied at Okayama University, organized a meeting to establish OUIAA, Indonesia Branch. We named the meeting “- Encouraging the Friendly and Academic Relationship between Indonesia and Okayama University-“
Even some members decided to come to the event, but some members finally could not attend to the meeting due to duty from office, so only few Indonesian alumni from different parts of Indonesia joined the program. The ceremony attended by delegates of Okayama University: Associate Professor Yoshihiko HIRAI of Faculty of Agriculture, Mr Masahiro YAMASAKI, Director of the Administrative Office, the Center for Global Partnerships and Education (former International Center) and Professor Emeritus, Masumi OKA, Advisor for OUIAA. From Indonesia, attended by Dean and Vice Dean of Faculty of Mathematics and Naturals sciences: Dr. rer. nat. Abdul Haris, Dr. Ridla Bakri, M.Phil, and Dr. Rokhmatullah, head of Department of biology: Dr.rer.nat Yasman, M.Sci, Prof Yokota, visiting Professor from Tokyo University, other staff members who graduated from Japan Universities, and students from Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and also from Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Indonesia.
The establishment of ceremony was starting by the opening address and introduction of guests by Stephany Angella Tumewu, an alumnus of Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematic and Natural Sciences, who will continue her study in Okayama University in 2015, followed by Greetings remarks by, The Dean of Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Dr. rer. nat. Abdul Haris, University of Indonesia, then continued by report on the establishment preparation by acting head of OUIAA Indonesia branch, Dr Andi Salamah that later appointed as a president of OUIAA Indonesia branch. The ceremony then continued with Greetings speech from the representative of Okayama University, Prof. Masumi Oka, followed by General Lecture of “Current Researches in Okayama University” by Prof. Yoshihiko Hirai, the Associate Professor of Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University, who introduced about Okayama University to the guests who came. Guests gave their enthusiasm about study in Okayama University by asked many questions to Prof Hirai. Finally the ceremony closed by photo’s session.
With the Establishment of OUIAA Indonesia branch, it will make the communication among Indonesian alumni members become stronger and we hope of OUIAA, in future we hope many students from Indonesia could continue their study in Okayama or vice versa students from Okayama University could do exchange program in Indonesian universities, and also open the opportunity to increase collaboration work or research between Indonesia Institution and Okayama University
The Program ended with much promise and hope for the branch in the future!
(By Dr. Andi Salamah, Indonesia Branch President)
