ASTHA 2020 is a welcoming event for the new Indonesian students of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). The event was held from 5th till 9th of October 2020 and arranged by ISS Indonesia every year with the purpose of introducing the practices of university-life in UTM. This event was not only filled with seminars but also with interactive discussions between students and their peers. Therefore, ASTHA is expected to be a medium in introducing and building solidarity between Indonesian students.
The First Major Online Event Run by ISS Indonesia
ASTHA became the first major event to be held online by International Student Society (ISS) Indonesia. It involved 169 participants and was organized by a committee of 127 people. The event was held fully through Zoom Cloud Meetings application for five consecutive days and people other than the attendees of the event also can access to watch it live on YouTube.
ASTHA is an annual event originally designed to be executed offline or face-to-face, but due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, ISS Indonesia decided to carry out this event online. Constructing a large event through an online platform was not easy and needed adaptation from both participants and members of the committee. Therefore, ISS Indonesia hopes that this event will become an example and benchmark for future major events that will be held online by any ISS.
Inviting Significant Guest Speakers including Deans of Each Faculty in UTM
The committee had invited many notable sources from various fields. One of whom was Dr.H. Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, B.B.A., M.B.A., an outstanding figure known to be an entrepreneur and notable Indonesian politician. As of this moment, Sandiaga Uno is also the 14th Deputy Governor of Jakarta. Within the event, he delivered subject matters in the Talk-show regarding “When Achieving Success Needs a Plan”. The talk was also given by Prof. Dr. Hadi Nur, the Senior Director of the Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research and one of the Indonesian lecturers at UTM.
Within this event, Deans from every faculty of UTM were also invited to fill in the Dean Talks agenda held on the third day of ASTHA. Among them were:
- Dr. Noriza binti Mohd Jamal (Deputy Dean of AHIBS)
- Sr Dr. Hishamuddin Mohd Ali (Deputy Dean of FABU)
- Prof. Ir. Dr. Shuhaimi bin Mansor (Assistant Dean Global & External Engagement for Faculty of Engineering)
- Dr. Ahmad Baharudin Abd Rahman (Deputy Dean Academic & International for Faculty of Engineering)
- Prof. Dr. Zaidatun Tasir (Dean FSSH)
- Prof. Dr. Siti Aisyah (Chairman of SHARPS)
- Prof. Dr. Hadi Nur (Senior Director of Ibnu Sina Institute for Scientific and Industrial Research)
Thus, within the closing of ASTHA 2020, ISS Indonesia urged that the entirety of ISS and other communities must remain creative in composing major events. The COVID-19 pandemic is not an obstacle for people to develop themselves. As a matter of fact, it is an interesting opportunity to learn and adapt to new environments that require individuals to make the best use of technology.