Penang, 19 August 2023
In an effort to strengthen education abroad, ALPTK PTMA continues to introduce innovations and new breakthroughs in education to empower children in Learning Centers (Sanggar Belajar) across Malaysia. On 19 August 2023, at the Auditorium of the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Penang, Malaysia, ALPTK PTMA, in collaboration with the Social and Cultural Affairs Division (Pensosbud) of KJRI Penang and several PTMAs, organized the 3rd ICEDUALL International Seminar as well as the closing ceremony for the 8th cohort of the PPM/KKN/KKNDik/International Partnership PkM program. The event was attended by and received visionary insights from Prof. Dr. Muh Firdaus, the Education and Cultural Attaché (Atdikbud) of RI in Malaysia, and Mr. Dadang, the Social and Cultural Affairs Officer (Pensosbud) of RI in Penang.
Both Prof. Dr. Muh Firdaus and Mr. Dadang expressed their appreciation for the program organized by ALPTK PTMA. Mr. Dadang expressed his delight in collaborating with ALPTK PTMA and hoped the program would continue to bring benefits to all. He further emphasized the importance of sustained communication between ALPTK and PTMA to foster joint programs in the fields of Information, Social, and Cultural Affairs (Pensosbud). He noted that this program has made a tangible impact on improving education for Indonesian children in Malaysia.
On the same occasion, Prof. Dr. Muh Firdaus, the Education and Cultural Attaché of Malaysia, expressed his strong hope that the PPM/KKN/KKNDik/International Partnership PkM program would continue and align with the work programs of Atdikbud Malaysia. He stated that this program, pioneered and managed by ALPTK PTMA, has drawn the interest of both public and private universities in Indonesia to replicate or adopt the models implemented by Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah Universities (PTMA). According to Prof. Dr. Firdaus, many Indonesian universities are now eager to conduct similar community service programs abroad, inspired by PTMA’s example. He also highlighted that ICEDUALL 3 represents an important breakthrough by ALPTK PTMA, as every activity produces concrete outputs such as books and international seminars. He expressed his expectation that the 9th cohort of the International Partnership Program will be launched soon to ensure the continuity of this initiative beyond the 8th cohort. Prof. Dr. Firdaus also hoped that Muhammadiyah universities would provide opportunities for students from Learning Centers (SB) or schools in Malaysia to pursue higher education at Muhammadiyah universities.
At the same event, Prof. Dr. Harun Joko Prayitno, M.Hum, Chairman of the PTMA LPTK Association and Coordinator of the PPM/KKN/KKNDik/International Partnership PkM Program, reported that the program continuously innovates in the field of education. He emphasized that innovation and transformative change are integral to the program, which is currently being prepared for its 9th cohort, in response to the aspirations conveyed by Atdikbud Prof. Dr. Firdaus. The innovations initiated by PTMA, such as the ICEDUALL-3 international conference held in a hybrid format at KJRI Penang, involved lecturers from Unmuh Malang, UAD Yogyakarta, UMS Surakarta, Unmuh Ponorogo, UMJ, Unmuh Bojonegoro, and others. These efforts have produced notable outputs, including proceedings indexed by WoS (Web of Science), nationally accredited Sinta journals, nationally ISSN-registered proceedings, and an ISBN-registered book titled “Memerdekakan Pendidikan dan Membumikan Jiwa Kepekaan Sosial Anak SB” (“Liberating Education and Grounding the Social Awareness of SB Children”).
The ICEDUALL-3 event, integrated with the closing of the 8th cohort of the International Partnership PPM/KKN/PkM program, involved 41 students and 23 lecturers, featuring 5 invited speakers, and resulting in 49 papers ready for publication in WoS-indexed proceedings, Sinta-accredited national journals, and nationally ISSN-registered proceedings.
