UNITE is an International Conference program involving students from various prestigious universities worldwide. This activity is part of the ‘Rumah Kepemimpinan’, a self-development program for students in Indonesia. The conference aims to provide opportunities for youth to discuss, interpret the history of Islam, and create ideas that can enhance the impact on the environment with the spirit of Islamic civilization.
This year, UNITE took place from November 14th to 22nd, 2023, in Istanbul, Turkey, marking the second implementation of the program. This time, UNITE sent 7 student delegates from Indonesia representing various universities, including two from Universitas Gadjah Mada: Fathur Syahrian Ramadhani (Biology 2020) and Luthfia Nurul Atikah (International Relations 2019). Additionally, the conference was attended by student delegates from various countries such as Turkey, Yemen, Egypt, Morocco, Pakistan, Ethiopia, and Myanmar. These delegates were selected through a series of assessments including administrative tests, interviews, and project presentations.
Before the departure, Fathur underwent approximately 4 months of preparation, including Islamic historical insight, mentoring projects, team management, and fundraising. Each delegate prepared an ideas pitching session which was presented during the conference. The conference, held at the Turkish Youth Foundation (TÜGVA), an organization empowering youth to uphold justice and create various works worldwide, proceeded smoothly.
The activities commenced with seminars by three speakers: Mohammed Abdulhameed, Fatema Soliman, and Muhammad Anas. Each presented three distinct topics: “The Role of Youth as Innovators,” “Research as The Initial Gate to Innovate,” and “The Spring of Islamic Civilization.” Subsequently, the event continued with Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) among student delegates to discuss educational topics for youth worldwide.
From this conference, the three speakers also served as judges for the delegate projects, and Fathur received the “Best Presentation” award, while Luthfia received the “Best Social Project” award out of the three available awards.That achievement is a proud accomplishment for Universitas Gadjah Mada. “Participating in UNITE is something I am grateful for because of the various benefits, from learning through mentorship preparation, improving English speaking skills, engaging in discussions with international students, to studying the history of Islam at various historical sites in Turkey. Furthermore, with support from the delegates and judges, I am inspired to continue my project plan in the future,” said Fathur. Fathur himself brought an idea for a project he initiated back in 2021, called Hirau, a community of young people focused on advocating for environmental issues. These accomplishments were undoubtedly a result of support from the faculty, university, and those around him. [Author: Fathur Syahrian Ramadhani]