Universitas Gadjah Mada
Faculty of Economics and Business

Following the successful DREaM event in 2009, UGM, again, will hold the International Students Summer Program entitled DREaM 2010. This time activities raised the theme Preparing Global Future Leaders for Better Awareness and Mutual Understanding among Nations, a program that adopts the approach of interfaith dialogue cooperation to create a better life in the future.

"Cooperation among religious believers is an important solution in solving various problems which occurred recently, particularly those rooted in a belief or a religious problem," said Dr. Rachmat Sriwijaya, Friday (9/7) in the Fortakgama Room. Rachmat explained to reporters that the International Students Summer Program and World Youth Leaders Assembly activities were meant to bring foreign students to UGM to do various activities together. A total of 100 participants from 100 countries are expected to attend, but so far only 72 participants from 25 countries have participated in the DREaM activities. "Compared to last year's DREaM which was followed by 35 students from 12 countries, this year's DREaM activities considered improving significantly in number," explained the Head of International Affairs Office UGM.

These activities also received support from Foreign Affairs Ministry, representatives of foreign governments in Jakarta and Indonesian Embassies in friendly countries. United Arab Emirates Arab became the country that send the most representatives to this year's DREaM. "We learned that United Arab Emirates  will send 15 of their representatives," said Rachmat.

DREAM is described as an activity that plans to prepare the world future leaders. This activity was assessed as a Future Global Leader, because most participants are students coming from high-quality universities in the world. At least those who follow this DREaM event are expected to be a leader at the national level whilst having the possibility to be world-class leaders. They are prepared in a single place to be able to interact with each other, know each other's culture to form a networking wherever and in whatever position. Thus, they can contact each other," he explained.

DREaM this time raises three main themes, which are about micro-economy, disaster management and interfaith dialogue. The eight days activitiesfrom 8 to July 20, 2010 will present former Vice President of Indonesia, Jusuf Kalla, as the speaker who will give a public lecture entitled Creative Economy at Faculty of Economics and Business UGM. In addition Maharani Krisnina Tandjung, the founder the Warna-Warni Foundation, will also present to talk about batik in an event entitled Batik as the channels to empower the community.

Michelle Ayu Chinta, chief organizer, described that DREAM 2010 is slightly different from similar activities in previous years. The current DREaM is the most unique activities in Indonesia, because activities  not only include lectures but also collaborative activities. DREaM also implements excursive activities. "With Java Bakpia group, for example, the participants will learn together how to make bakpia cakes. The most attractive thing for the foreign students is that they will also join the KKN program for a few days at the KKN UGM site in Imogiri, Kotagede and Turi areas," Michelle explained.

Source: www.ugm.ac.id