Fueling My Passion as a Ph.D. Student for Research and Collaboration within The Global Academic Community

By Furqanul Hakim (PhD in Education student batch 2)

The first time I read the flyer for “The Engagement in the Digital Age: International Conference on Language Teaching and Learning,” I was immediately drawn to its engaging theme. Engagement is a topic often discussed in the educational context, especially with the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence. Beyond the theme, the keynote speakers, who will address various challenges in education, particularly in language teaching and learning, made the conference even more enticing. Among them, Prof. Rod Ellis, a renowned expert in the field of language teaching and learning, captured my interest the most. This Curtin University professor from Perth, Australia, has published extensively in books and academic journals, particularly on Written Corrective Feedback.

To achieve my goal of attending and speaking at this annual event, I took several steps to secure both financial and moral support. My first action was to prepare and submit an abstract as part of the application for conference funding. I am very grateful that, after the review process, my article titled “The Implementation of Parliamentary Debate in Language Teaching: A Literature Review on the SINTA Accredited Journals” was accepted for presentation at the international conference hosted by Hong Kong Baptist University.

Following this success, I sought a recommendation from the Dean of the Faculty of Education at the International Islamic University of Indonesia. I am deeply thankful to Prof. Nina Nurmila, who, as the dean overseeing my doctoral program, provided a recommendation. With all the necessary documents in hand, I submitted my application through the Indonesian International Islamic University research institute to secure financial support from UIII’s prestigious Conference Funding program. After a period of waiting, my application was approved.

Determined not to waste this opportunity, I thoroughly prepared to represent my alma mater at the conference on June 17-18, 2024. My preparations included reviewing my paper, developing engaging presentation materials, and handling travel arrangements. The support from lecturers and colleagues at the Faculty of Education, International Islamic University of Indonesia, was unwavering.

Reflecting on my participation, I encapsulate the experience with the phrase, “fueling my passion for research and collaboration within the global academic community.” This motivational sentiment, often echoed by all our faculty lecturers, emphasizes the importance of expanding our network to become open-minded and well-rounded doctoral candidates. We are encouraged to enrich ourselves with diverse perspectives to deepen our analytical capabilities for future research.

Upon arriving in Hong Kong, I engaged in various activities, including attending keynote presentations and participating in discussions. On the first day, I was particularly impressed by Norbert Pachiler’s (2024) insights on the importance of “Engagement” in education. He explored practical dimensions of learner engagement in foreign language learning, which resonated with me as both a teacher and researcher.

June 18 was my presentation day. Scheduled for 11:30, I had 1 hour and 30 minutes to present my paper and engage with the audience. The participants in my session were genuinely interested in my topic, providing valuable feedback, especially regarding the assessment process for measuring the effectiveness of parliamentary debates in language learning. This constructive input will be instrumental for my dissertation in the future. Therefore, the expertise of a doctoral student is best achieved inclusively, by broadening horizons through networking and enriching knowledge from diverse sources.