ASEAN Study Center (ASC) was officially established I Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta(UMY) on Saturday, March 10, 2018. The ceremony was marked by Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) signing among UMY which is represented by Dr. Gunawan Budiyanto and General Director Secretary of ASEAN affairs from Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Mr. Ashariyadi. Once the agenda was finished, it is continued with Public Lecture by Mr. Ashariyadi as “ASEAN: Achievement and Future Challenge” as the main theme.
In his public lecture, Mr. Ashariyadi uttered the reason behind of ASC establishment at UMY. “ASC has purposed to widen the ASEAN acknowledgment by the public in domestic level despite research itself since nowadays Indonesia is left behind by the Thailand and Singapore over this matter” he stated.
In the occasion, he also said that the ASC in UMY was the 53rd study center that established in Indonesia. The ASEAN itself has lots of chances to offer and to be understood by its society based on the three pillars of ASEAN. “The Establishment of ASC in UMY, hopefully, we can create the new agent of change, so the students can spread ASEAN’s value to others” he added. Therefore, three purposes of ASC establishment are the main concern for ASEAN’s involvement as regions’ partner, becoming the main reference for public consciousness and understanding toward ASEAN, and held brainstorming agendas to strengthen ASEAN identity in society.
At the same moment, Ali Muhammad, Ph.D. as the Director of ASC UMY emphasized how important ASC is since it is believed to be referenced for ASEAN roles in the Political and Economic field in South East Asia region. He also stated that even though it is initiated by International Relation Department, but its opened up for all departments in UMY, as it demands the involvement of various students and society in many roles and fields to ensure the purposes are achieved successfully.
The established structure of the ASEAN Study Center UMY is as follows: Ali Muhammad, Ph.D. (Director), Dian Azmawati, MA (Secretary) and other divisions directed by Dr. dr Ihlas Muhammad Jennie, Jordan Gunawan, SH, MH, MBA, dan Heri Akhmadi, SP, MA.
credit: IRO UMY