My Memorable Experience in Performing Indonesian Cultural Dance as a Filipino
My Memorable Experience in Performing Indonesian Cultural Dance as a Filipino
by Erickson Samson (MA in Education student batch 3)
Performing Indonesian cultural dance, especially the "Dindin Badindin" from West Sumatra, is one of the most fulfilling things I have ever done as a Filipino and an international student at UIII. This was something that I will never forget in my life. I am very grateful that I have been part of the cultural dancers and, most especially, the UIII community.
As a person who is not into dancing, nor had I experienced performing in front of a big crowd, I firstly hesitated to accept the invitation of my friends to join them because I was afraid that I could not perform well, which I thought I might have ruined the whole performance because of me. However, I still sincerely grabbed it after believing it was a once-in-a-blue-moon thing. Thus, I had to seize this opportunity because I knew that everything could be learnt by continued practice and everyone's cooperation.
I acknowledge the guidance of my course mates Andi Ilham, Furqanul Hakim, and Ulfia Muru'ah, as well as the continued support of friends and lecturers. Throughout the duration of practice, when everyone was busy with their papers, it was very challenging because we had to spare time to practice, and everyone's presence and cooperation were needed. As a result, our practices went very well, with happy moments and laughter.
Each day of practice and observing my friends, I reflected that I would never forget this moment when I became part of this, with my utmost appreciation and respect. I even learnt how to appreciate and sense the music with all my heart. In the future, I will remember that these are my friends with whom I have shared some of the best memories in my postgraduate journey in Indonesia.
On the first day of the conference, I did not feel nervous during this period at all; I told myself we just needed to enjoy this day and our performance with all smiles. I was elated after the performance, as it was done smoothly, telling myself that all our efforts had paid off, and everyone seemed to enjoy and love it. Also, what I loved was hearing that our dean of the Faculty of Education, Dr. Nina Nurmila, told the visitors that I was not an Indonesian, but a Filipino. Moreover, some were surprised by that kind of thing; my friends and lecturers were happy with that, which I loved most.
At the end of the day, I have learnt that we must enjoy the journey and our process. These help us grow and appreciate the people we are sharing the memories with. These things only happen once in our lives, but the memories that we have shared with our friends may not happen again.
Our cultural performance has made me appreciate Indonesia's culture, attached me to this country, its people, and its language, and encouraged me to act locally as part of cultural understanding and appreciation. This is why I have learnt to love this country.
At UIII, FoE Kick-Offs the 3rd Annual Conference on Well-Being and Education
At UIII, FoE Kick-Offs the 3rd Annual Conference on Well-Being and Education
Contributor: Supriyono | Editor: Dadi Darmadi
UIII, DEPOK – The Faculty of Education (FoE) at the Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) has officially kicked off its 3rd annual conference on Thursday, May 30, 2024, under the theme “A New Way of Teaching and Learning: Integrating Well-Being in Educational Settings” emphasizing the integration of well-being into the core aspects of education.
In her opening speech, the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Prof. Nina Nurmila, PhD, welcomed the keynote speakers, presenters and audiences, saying that this year’s FoE conference has attracted more paper submissions with better quality papers. She elaborated that in 2022, the conference received 13 papers and selected 6 papers to be presented in the 1st annual education conference. In 2023, the committee received 19 papers and selected 15 papers to be presented. Meanwhile this year, the conference received 46 papers and selected 26 papers for presentation.
“All of these numbers are less than the number of papers we received for the Writing Competition, which reaches 75 papers. Perhaps the awards and money we granted could be the motivating aspects for authors to submit their paper for writing competition. Therefore, beginning last year, we provide similar awards for the best papers submitted for the conference,” Prof. Nina Nurmila remarked.
In terms of the country of origin, Prof. Nurmila explained that her team expanded the origin country of the paper writers from only Indonesia in 2022, to three countries (Indonesia, Malaysia and UK) in 2023, to four countries (Indonesia, Australia, Malaysia and Pakistan) in 2024. “All of these still show that we need to build broader networking to spread our conference to attract more participants from various different countries,” Prof. Nurmila said.
Following the Dean’s speech, Prof. Dr. Jamhari, Rector of UIII, highlighted the importance of the conference theme, saying that it resonates with UIII’s mission of inclusivity and to deliver top-notch postgraduate education, foster innovative research, and contribute to science and social welfare.
“This approach recognizes the importance of addressing students’ emotional intelligence, psychological, and physical well-being throughout their academic development,” Prof. Dr. Jamhari said in his remark.
Meanwhile, Associate Professor Charyna Ayu Rizkyanti, PhD, the organizing committee, explained the reason behind the theme, associating it with the human development theory in which universities are the places for adult learners either those in the early to late adulthood phase. Hence, well-being becomes an integral part of the university environment.
“Inevitably, the increasing focus on well-being, particularly mental health, in the education sector occurs for a crucial reason. Educational institutions must adopt a holistic approach to teaching and learning and integrate well-being into their policies and practices,” Associate Professor Rizkyanti said.
This year’s conference invited three keynote speakers. On the first day, Thursday, May 30th, 2024, K. H. Saiful Rahmat Dasuki, S.IP., M.Si. from the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia discussed how to improve the well-being in education setting through practicing moderate Islam. Additionally, Prof. Lindsay Oades from the University of Melbourne, Australia presented the “Flourishing and Well-being in Education”. On the second day, Friday, May 31st, 2024, Prof. Vina Adriany, PhD from Indonesian Education University (UPI) will discuss “Teachers’ Welfare, Professionalism and Well-being” as the conference’s final keynote speaker.
This is the third time the UIII Faculty of Education has held its annual conference. The first annual education conference in 2022 was under the broad theme of Education and Society concentration; the second annual conference in 2023 was under the theme of Education Policy, Management, and Leadership; and this year’s conference is under the theme of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning. Next year, the faculty will have the fourth annual conference under the theme Educational Assessment and Evaluation.
Recording on YouTube
Day 1 (Opening and Keynote Speaker)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoUISroZdsc
Day 2 (Keynote Speaker)
https://www.youtube.com/live/qRGr1vpP354?si=YyRVaqVn9gGJ3zjF
Day 2 (Closing Ceremony)
https://www.youtube.com/live/WUNafcLo_9c?si=T4xn85OIJobb6yX7
FoE UIII's lecturer provided workshop about Rasch Model measurement for teachers in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
The Rasch model is a powerful tool in cognitive testing, transforming raw scores into interval measures, which allows for more precise and meaningful interpretations of test results. On Thursday 23 May 2024, Dr Bambang, one of the lecturer in Faculty of Education UIII, provided whole day workshop for teachers in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia. The workshop introduces the fundamentals of the Rasch model, focusing on its application in cognitive assessment, particularly about instrument analysis as well as person analysis. Participants learned how the model ensures that test items are appropriate for different ability levels, providing a fair and accurate measure of cognitive skills. Through hands-on sessions, attendees will practice calibrating test items and interpreting Rasch output using relevant software. Key topics include item difficulty, person ability estimation, and the creation of invariant measurement scales. The workshop is designed especially for teachers to enhance their understanding of test adn item development, and data analysis in cognitive testing. By the end, workshop participants equipped with the skills to apply the Rasch model to improve the reliability and validity of cognitive assessments in their respective teaching subject.
Course Evaluation: Mid Semester 2023/2024
Faculty of Education UIII's course evaluations serve as valuable feedback mechanisms from students to express their opinions on the quality of teaching, course content, and overall learning experience they had in a semester. The students got the opportunity twice in a semester to give their assessment about the course, in the middle of semester as well as in the end of semester. These evaluations typically consist of structured questions (close ended with rating scale) and also open-ended comments, allowing students to rate aspects such as instructor effectiveness, course organization, clarity of materials, and relevance to learning objectives. They provide instructors with insights into their teaching methods and areas for improvement, in the four dimension which are: Course Materials and Structure, Course Delivery, Learning Assessment, Lecturer's Connection and Encouragement, Student Engagement and Involvement, and General / Overall Rating. Moreover, course evaluations aid universities in assessing the effectiveness of their academic programs and identifying areas for enhancement. By soliciting student feedback, the faculty can continuously refine their courses to meet the evolving needs of students and maintain high standards of education. Ultimately, course evaluations play a crucial role in fostering a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement within our faculty and university.
Yayasan Penggerak Indonesia Cerdas (Pengincer) visited Faculty of Education UIII
Yayasan Penggerak Indonesia Cerdas (Pengincer), especially the Pengincer Research Center (PRC) unit have visited Faculty of Education, Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia on Monday, 6 May 2024. Previously, last year, Pengincer researchers attended summer course of research methods organized by Faculty of Social Sciences UIII. They learned some research skills which included experimental research design, case studies design, how to use Quirkos to do qualitative data coding, and Rash Model Analysis for instrument testing. All of this equiped Pengincer reseracher to do their own research. For the next collaboration, Pengincer join with FoE UIII will conduct their research disemination activities about literacy and numeracy study on July 2024 at beuatiful UIII campus in Depok, West Java.
FoE UIII's staff as a guest lecture at Universitas Multimedia Nusantara, Serpong, Tangerang
The Rasch model is a powerful tool in measurement theory, particularly in educational and psychological assessments as well as for business research. It provides a framework for understanding how individuals respond to items on a scale and how these responses relate to their underlying ability or trait. In a guest lecture on the Rasch model, key points would include its fundamental principles, such as the requirement of item independence and the concept of person and item parameters. Additionally, discussing practical applications, such as test development, item analysis, and person ability in the context of business research, would be valuable. It's important to address common misconceptions and challenges in implementing the Rasch model, along with strategies for interpretation and validation. Demonstrating its versatility in business research, like customer satifcation, employee motivation, consumer product choice or market research, would highlight its broad utility. Overall, this guest lecture aims to equip participants with a foundational understanding and practical insights into utilizing the Rasch model effectively. The guest lecturer conducted on 2nd May 2024 at Universitas Multimedia Nusantara building in Serpong, Tangerang, which master of technology management, faculty of business students attended the lecture.
Dr. Charyna Ayu Rizkiyanti promotion to Associate Professor
CONGRATULATIONS
Warmest congratulations on her well-earned promotion to Associate Professor, specializing in Educational and Family Psychology.
Associate Prof. Charyna Ayu Rizkiyanti, Ph.D
Her main research is Empathy, an essential value to be embraced in the context of education and family with the special issue is Empathy and Defender Role in Bullying at School: Student-Teacher Relationship as Mediator.
Ramadan breakfasting gathering at Faculty of Education UIII
UIII faculty of education students, lecturers and staff is buzzing with excitement as we gather for a ramadan breakfasting on Tuesday, 2 April 2024. This vibrant event brings together everyone to share the latest updates about 'annual conference' that to be held on end of May 2024, 'graduate forum and student colloquium' that will be conducted early of July 2024, as well as introduce two scholars in residence fellow to our students. Some international students from Gambia, the Philipines, Pakistan and Thailand share their experience about fasting in Indonesia and reflect to their country of origin's custom during ramadan.
Q & A Session
Karamo (MA Student) from Gambia
Sarah (MA Student) from the Philipines
Khizer Hayat (MA Student) from Pakistan
Insof Waeji (MA Student) from Thailand
Indulge in a delectable spread of breakfasting menu in our iftar: various traditional cake and soto (Indonesian chicken soup).
Scholars in Residence Fellow Batch 4
Welcome to our esteemed Scholars in Residence fellow in batch 4! We're thrilled to have Naning Tri Wahyuni, PhD. and Gin Gin Gustine, PhD. join our dynamic research community. As a postdoctoral fellow, both of you bring a wealth of knowledge, fresh perspectives, and invaluable expertise to Faculty of Education, Universitas Islam International Indonesia. Your dedication to advancing scholarly inquiry and pushing the boundaries of knowledge is inspiring. We're excited to collaborate with you on groundbreaking research projects, fostering innovation and academic excellence. Together, we'll embark on an enriching journey of discovery, learning, and professional growth. Your contributions will undoubtedly shape the future of our institution and leave a lasting impact on the academic landscape. Once again, welcome aboard!
Photo Session after Welcoming SIR Fellow Batch 4
Campus Tour
Lecturer Publication 2024: Charyna Ayu Rizkyanti, PhD and Dr. Lukman Nul Hakim

