An Interview with Prof. Pratikno

It would be unwise of me not to post this entry:) I mean...we prepared all the troubles of going downtown just to be in the forum, more than that...we squeezed our time just to meet Prof. Pratikno (rector of my almamater, Gadjah Mada University) who happened to be one of the presenters at ASEAN Forum held by KISEAS (Korean Institute of Southeast Asian Studies) 

Actually it was supposed to be the task of Mr. Manna who usually do the interviewing with the notable figures who come to Korea for any specific purposes be it on academic, social, economic, political, or any agenda in mind.^^

So, being in his shoes was like having to cramp my mind as what to do and think of as I got to come up with questions after questions so as not to look 'dumb' vis a vis a prominent figure like Prof. Praktikno.

Oh, one more thing, it turned out that Seoul (Korea) is not an unfamiliar city (country) after all. It's his fifth visit!!!

Welcome back, Prof. Pratikno.

The 19th ASEAN Forum

An afternoon well-spent at Koreana Hotel where the 19th ASEAN Forum was held.  KISEAS (Korean Institute of Southeast Asian Studies) in cooperation with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (ROK) and ASEAN secretariat jointly held this event. 

The dignitaries circling the chairman of KISEAS and the presenters from Indonesia & Malaysia as well as other participants. The Forum dealt with the issue on Higher Education in S.E. Asia, particularly on its current situation & future prospects. 

Well, one of the reasons as to why I participated in the event was first, I got to interview the rector of my university (Universitas Gadjah Mada), Prof. Pratikno (in the middle) who happened to be one of the two presenters at the event. He came to Korea accompanied by Dr. Bambang Hudayana (Center for Rural & Regional Development Studies). It's nice to see them in Seoul. Well, it's my first time seeing them after, let's see...I guess almost two years. As for Prof. Pratikno, it's my first time meeting him after him being elected as the rector last year. He'll serve his term until 2017.

At the Forum, the other speaker was Prof Omar Osman, the vice-chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia. 

One thing for sure that I would remember from the Forum was the fact that I met a lot of Indonesian-ist who showed their strong interest in Indonesia-related studies. And it's interesting to know that most of them were anthropologists. Hmm..what an exciting world it was.

*just like most Forum, the event was finalized with the photo session and ...the banquet.