As one of the tertiary institutions that has the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (MIPA), this year the State University of Malang (UM) has been appointed as the organizer of the 5th Asian Deans Science Summit (ASDS). The series of ASDS events this time was held from Tuesday (9/7) to Thursday (11/7), starting with a city tour (Malang City Tour), opening and main events at Hotel Santika Premiere Malang, and ending with excursions on tours. Mount Bromo. With the theme "Reinforce Mobility and Networking Activity on Teaching Research and Community Service", the 5th ASDS was attended by 61 participants from countries in Asia.
ASDS is an annual meeting of deans from various universities in Asia that have the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences with the aim of building networks and cooperation to improve the quality of learning, research or research, and community service. As many as 61 participants in the 5th ASDS this year consisted of deans, vice deans, and International Office employees from various universities in Asia, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Timor Leste, South Korea, and Japan.
The implementation of ASDS at UM is the fifth time. This activity which was initiated by Professor Seung-Han Park was first held at Yonsei University, South Korea in 2015. For the following years, ASDS was held sequentially at the University of Malaya, Malaysia (2016), then at the University of Indonesia (2017) , at Prince Songkla University, Thailand (2018), and at the State University of Malang. The appointment of UM as the organizer of ASDS in 2019 is based on the results of the decision from the previous year's ASDS. "The appointment of UM as the organizer of the 5th ASDS this year is a good place to be better known in the international arena. In addition, we can also collaborate with various universities both in Indonesia and in Asia, "said Dr. Hadi Suwono, M.Si as Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences UM.
In the main event, an MoU was signed which was proof of cooperation among ASDS participants. Several universities involved in the MoU include Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), National University of Timor Lorosae (UNTL), University of Indonesia (UI), Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB), Airlangga University ( UNAIR), Diponegoro University (UNDIP), and Surabaya Institute of Technology (ITS). This collaboration focuses on the learning process at the Mathematics and Natural Sciences Faculty. Thus, lecturers from various universities involved in the MoU can participate in the learning process, such as giving cross-university lectures. Not only that, these various universities also collaborate in terms of double degrees, and for various foreign universities, cooperation is also focused on research, collaboration, publication, and study mobility or student exchanges.
As the organizer of ASDS which is a major international event, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences UM also involves students in these activities so that they will become accustomed to international events. For this ASDS, the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has made preparations since the beginning of 2019, starting from promotions to various universities in Indonesia that have the MIPA Faculty and inviting speakers and parties who are initiators of ASDS. From year to year, ASDS participants have experienced quite an increase, and the themes that are carried are always adjusted to important issues in the world community, especially in terms of learning and science.
In the discussion session, ASDS participants promoted their respective universities and presented various experiences that have been passed, especially in collaborative efforts and building networks to improve the quality of learning, research, and community service. "From today's discussion, conclusions and recommendations will be drawn about what to do in the future. Hopefully this ASDS will succeed in advancing research results from various universities that can provide benefits to the community, "said Dr. Hadi Suwono, M.Si. close the interview by Communication. Azril