VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia Cyber Education (ICE) Institute has collaborated with China's Tsinghua University to provide its students and the people at large in Indonesia with free access to quality distance learning materials.

"The ICE Institute has now collaborated with XuetangX.com that Tsinghua University initiated," Prof. Nizam, a top official at the Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Ministry, noted in a statement here Tuesday.

As a result, Indonesia's university students could freely access course modules taught at Tsinghua University, Nizam, acting Director General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology at the ministry, remarked.

All course materials that ICE Institute provides can also be accessed by students and the public freely, he noted, adding that COVID-19 had taught academic communities about the need for online learning platforms.

One of the online learning platforms that can be accessed at any time and from anywhere is provided by ICE Institute, a platform jointly developed by Universitas Terbuka (UT) and 14 other universities in Indonesia, he stated.

The professor expects the collaboration between ICE Institute and XuetangX.com to provide the people at large in Indonesia with free access to quality distance learning materials.

Through ICE Institute, the universities' teaching staff remain able to guide their students and ensure that they really study, Nizam stated.

Rapid developments in technology occurring worldwide, including artificial intelligence (AI), pose challenges to humankind, but efforts need to be directed on how AI, for instance, can optimally be used for the greater good in education, he stated.

"How to optimize the use of AI for good intentions for humanity and not for destroying humankind," Nizam remarked.

Meanwhile, Universitas Terbuka Rector Prof. Ojat Darojat, said that ICE Institute has been working with XuetangX since 2022. Several collaborative activities include exchanging course materials, joint development of courses, exchange of experts, and joint training.

Director of Tsinghua University's Online Education Center Xiaoxiao Wang said Tsinghua's online learning platform has existed and got developed since a decade ago.

The distance learning that Indonesia's Universitas Terbuka (Open University) has developed is remarkable enough that it has attracted Tsinghua University to work together to make a joint online learning effort, Wang remarked.

The presence of Tsinghua's online learning platform has not merely been accessed by people in China but also in different parts of the world, Wang added. (Antaranews)

Commemoration of International Women's Day in the Engineering Field (INWED) 2023 - 

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Penny Williams PSM met with engineers today leading Indonesian women to highlight the contribution of women in the infrastructure sector. 

Speaking at the commemoration of International Women's Day in the Engineering Field (INWED) 2023 in Jakarta, Duta Besar Williams said, "INWED is an opportunity to recognize the achievements of engineers women and promote gender equality in infrastructure development."

The event also marks the 70th anniversary of Australian Scholarships in Indonesia – a highlight strong bilateral relations between the two countries.

"Australia Awards scholarships in Indonesia have played an important role in strengthening ties between community and improve the ability of Indonesian experts. We are very happy to have highlighting the contribution of Australian alumni in the infrastructure sector," said Ambassador Williams.

Ir Diana Kusumastuti, Director General of Cipta Karya - Ministry of Public Works and Housing People, became the main speaker in this event. He shared his experience as an engineer who leads the formulation of policies and implementation of public infrastructure in the sector water and sanitation. 

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Tuesday Night, the event was organized by the Indonesia-Australia Partnership for Infrastructure (KIAT) and was well attended key government stakeholders, Australian alumni in Indonesia, and experts in infrastructure sector. Event attendees listened to two panel discussions under the global INWED theme 2023 is "#MakeSafetySeen".

The Australian Government is committed to promoting and supporting gender equality advancement of women in engineering and infrastructure through KIAT. 

KIAT is a partnership between the Australian and Indonesian governments to support growth a sustainable and inclusive economy through developing access to infrastructure for everyone.

KIAT works together with the government and the community, providing technical assistance for developing policies, financing and provision of infrastructure in the road sector, mobility cities, water and sanitation//VOI

Stakeholder National Meeting -  

The Social Inclusion-Based Library Transformation Program (TPBIS) fronted by the National Library of Indonesia (Perpusnas) is one of the smart solutions for people's economic recovery, especially in the post-Covid-19 pandemic. However, collaboration and synergy between stakeholders is needed in building community literacy.

"The Stakeholders Meeting brings together stakeholders to be able to collaborate or work together in building community literacy," explained the Head of the National Library Muhammad Syarif Bando at the National Stakeholders Meeting (SHM) in Jakarta, Wednesday morning, (21/6/2023).

The task of educating the nation's children is a joint task. Because a smart nation will provide prosperity. Indonesia from now on must have the courage to compete with other countries.

"We should no longer be deceived by sending raw materials and then processing them in other countries, and selling them domestically again. Therefore, mastery of technology is important, “he added.

The facts laid out before us together should be a cause for concern. 90% of Indonesians who work have primary and secondary education backgrounds. In fact, some are not finished. Only 10% of the working population have a bachelor's degree.

Therefore, the existence of public libraries needs to be strengthened by activities like this. The IFLA Manifesto says that the last place for those who are not in formal school is the public library.

“There is no need for a syllabus or curriculum. The most important thing for the community is reading material that is able to provide knowledge and teaching and is full of tutorials," explained Bando.

Syarif Bando hopes that by holding the National SHM, the regions will have the policy foundation needed for program implementation, form collaborations and networks between regional libraries and stakeholders and expand the TPBIS replication program independently and sustainably.

Head of National Library Development Center for Public and Special Libraries Nani Suryani added that the spirit of this activity is to build stakeholder commitment and support for sustainable library transformation, with the hope of creating a prosperous society through TPBIS.

"The purpose of holding this SHM is besides strengthening the synergy and collaboration of stakeholders in implementing TPBIS, and encouraging the TPBIS program to become a national movement for literacy development," added Nani.

According to a release received by Voice of Indonesia on Wednesday, the National SHM was attended onsite by 695 participants from partner provinces and districts/cities in 2022, 2020, 2018, Role Model program partners, accompanying consultants for the TPBIS program, and attended by 1,000 participants virtually.

The 2023 National Stakeholder Meeting was packaged in several event sessions including the delivery of material by speakers regarding the urgency of encouraging the continuation of strengthening community literacy through an independent replication program, and a talk show "Cross-Sectoral Synergy & Collaboration as a Joint Movement for the Development of the TPBIS Program in the Regions".

The speakers who attended the SHM this time included the Deputy for Development of Library Resources, Plt. Director of Religion, Education and Culture, Ministry of National Development Planning/Bappenas Didik Darmanto, former Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Ignasius Jonan, Head of Planning and Finance Bureau of National Library of Indonesia Joko Santoso, Head of Sulubombong Village Kab. Banggai, Central Sulawesi Province, Head of STF Driyarkara Jakarta Augustinus Setyo Wibowo, and Cak Lontong//VOI

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia has been elected as a member of the Executive Board of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), representing the East Asia and Pacific region, for the 2023-2027 period.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, said that the accession to the UNWTO executive board shows that the global community trusts Indonesia to encourage the revival of the tourism sector.

"I am grateful and moved by the trust that has been given to Indonesia," Uno said in a statement released on Tuesday.

He mentioned that Indonesia received 16 votes in the election, surpassing China (15 votes), Japan (14), South Korea (12), and Thailand (11).

Indonesia will represent the East Asia and Pacific region on the executive board, alongside China, Japan, and South Korea, he added.

Uno stated that Indonesia and other members of the East Asia and Pacific region would be responsible for developing UNWTO programs in the region, which will be reported to the organization's General Assembly in October 2023.

The minister emphasized that Indonesia's membership on the UNWTO Executive Board would strengthen its role in national and global tourism development.

Last year, Indonesia hosted the World Tourism Day commemoration in Bali, coinciding with the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting.

With Indonesia's new role at UNWTO, Uno urged all stakeholders and citizens to unite for the progress of the tourism sector.

"The world has bestowed much recognition on us (Indonesia)... We are not just developing our tourism, but also regional and global tourism," he said. (Antaranews)