Successfully Hosting AJCU-AP Global Leadership Program 2024, Universitas Sanata Dharma Proves itself as a World-Class Host

USD – On August 12-18, Universitas Sanata Dharma through the International Office successfully hosted the 14th AJCU-AP Global Leadership Program (GLP) 2024. This annual program from the Association of Jesuit Universities in Asia Pacific (AJCU-AP) took the theme “Youth Empowerment in Intercultural Society: Towards a Rooted Global Citizenship”. 39 participants and 7 chaperones from 9 universities such as Sophia University, Japan, Ateneo de Manila, Philippines, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taiwan, Sogang University, South Korea, Polytechnic ATMI Surakarta, Instituto São João de Brito, East Timor, Ricci Hall The University of Hong Kong, and Xavier Learning Community, Thailand participated in this program. 

The GLP organizing committee took over as the host, and among its members were Yurisdixta Menavia, the Head of the International Office, Simon Arsa Manggala (Lecturer in English Letters), Fr. Alexander Hendra Dwi Asmara, S.J (Lecturer in Catholic Religious Education Study Program), Thomas Wahyu Prabowo Mukti (Lecturer in English Language Education Study Program), and  Ilsa Haruti Suryandari (Lecturer in Accounting Study Program) which also became a chaperone for Indonesian delegates.

The GLP participants got to meet and listen to a session with a keynote speaker, Inayah Wulandari Wahid, daughter of Gus Dur, the Republic of Indonesia’s fourth president. The event also featured several lecturers who were experts in fields related to the sub-themes. F.X Ouda Teda Ena, M.Pd., Ed.D. presented the sub-theme on the Youth and Lifestyle, Prof. Inayah Rohmaniyah, S.Ag., M.Hum., M.A., spoke about the Youth and Belief Systems, and last but not least, Fr. B. Hari Juliawan, S.J., Ph.D. contributed to the discussion on the Youth and Social Economy. The lecturers’ varied points of view gave the participants significant insight into important issues related to youth empowerment in a multicultural society. 

As part of the GLP, the participants were allowed to explore the leadership value of the sub-themes by going on field trips to three different places, such as Omah Petruk, Sunan Pandanaran Islamic Boarding School, and Universitas AMIKOM. At Omah Petruk, participants were introduced to the philosophy of life through the symbolism of bamboo which is related to the Youth and Lifestyle. Meanwhile, at Sunan Pandanaran Islamic Boarding School, participants gained in-depth insights into the Youth and Belief System through firsthand observation of Islamic boarding school life and spiritual values that form the foundation of the student’s character. Additionally, the participants learned and practiced calligraphy which taught them patience and thoroughness. Other than that, the participants who visited Universitas AMIKOM gained more knowledge of Youth and Social Economy through the use of technology and media. There, they also got to try their hand at dubbing a scheme from a movie scene. 

Apart from the learning material, the participants were also invited to explore the world by visiting Hamzah Batik in Kaliurang and attending the closing ceremony on the last day, which featured cultural performances from each country.

One of the participants from Sogang University, South Korea, Yuna Lee, expressed her joy in participating in this event.

“I am thrilled to be part of the GLP program because it allowed me to experience Indonesian culture firsthand and gain valuable experiences with new friends”

At the same time, Marco Luis Coros, a participant from Ateneo de Manila University, The Philippines also expressed his happiness during this program. 

“I am truly grateful to be part of the GLP program. It has given me the unique opportunity to immerse myself in Indonesian culture and create unforgettable memories. Beyond that, I’ve had the pleasure of building meaningful connections with new friends from diverse backgrounds, making this experience even more enriching.”

The GLP closed with closing remarks from Fr. Albertus Bagus Laksana, S.J., S.S., Ph.D, the Rector of Universitas Sanata Dharma, and Caecilia Tutyandari, Ph.D, the Vice-Rector for Collaboration and Alumni Affairs, which was then continued with giving certificates to the participants and farewell dinner with a local culture nuances at Rama Shinta Garden Resto.