TO provide enrichment of knowledge, increase the intake of information to students and lecturers about the development of science, especially in the field of development communication in the digital era, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) UNIB held an International Conference on Development Communication, at the Mercure Hotel, Bengkulu City, Tuesday (18/10/2022).
The first international conference or The 1st International Conference on Development Communication (ICDC) was well organized thanks to the hard work and cohesiveness of the organizing committee initiated by students and lecturers of the Communication Studies, S1 Journalism and Masters (S2) Communication Studies Program, FISIP UNIB.
The success of the ICDC implementation received appreciation from the Chancellor of UNIB and the Governor of Bengkulu. Even in his remarks, the Chancellor and Governor hoped that ICDC could be held every year and become an academic culture in FISIP UNIB in an effort to improve the academic atmosphere, internationalization of universities, and improve the image of Bengkulu in foreign communities because this area has various potentials that deserve to be developed.
“This activity is in line with the vision of internationalization of higher education that we continue to develop. In addition to establishing friendship and cooperation between students and between lecturers from various universities at home and abroad, this activity can also encourage an increase in the academic atmosphere that provides enrichment of knowledge and experience for students, “said UNIB Chancellor Dr. Retno Agustina Ekaputri, S.E, M.Sc, when opening the event.
In the future, said the Chancellor, national seminars and international conferences such as the ICDC conducted by FISIP must be intensified by all study programs at UNIB. Because, through this activity, students and lecturers can quickly and easily understand various information developments that are so rapid as a result of the digital era, especially regarding information relevant to their scientific fields.
“This ICDC activity is very good and deserves appreciation by all parties. In the future, it is hoped that it will be further improved and inspire other study programs,” said Dr. Retno Agustina Ekaputri, while thanking the speakers from various countries who have taken the time to be involved in this activity.
Bengkulu Governor Dr. H. Rohidin Mersyah, MMA through a written speech read by the Head of the Communication, Information and Statistics (Kominfotik) Bengkulu Province Moh. Redhwan Arif, S.Sos, MPH in his speech assessed that the ICDC FISIP UNIB activity is one of the contributions of universities in building a positive image of the region on the national and international scene.
“Universities not only create reliable resources, but also play a role in building a positive image and introducing various regional potentials to people outside the province and abroad. Through this ICDC activity, we will not only discuss the development of information traffic in the digital era, but how the rapid development of information technology can increase development that will bring prosperity to the community,” he said.
The Chairperson of the 1st ICDC FISIP UNIB Committee, Dr. Alfarabi, S.Sos, MA explained that this activity is the first time that the communication science study program (S1 Communication Science, S1 Journalism and S2 Communication) has held an international standard seminar. Because, so far only seminars and public lectures on a national scale.
“Now we are trying to hold an international seminar by presenting academics and practitioners from abroad whose focus is on development communication. The speakers come from countries that have similar cultures, so that the topics of discussion are easier to understand together in order to provide enrichment of knowledge to students and lecturers, “he said.
The man who is familiarly called Abai and currently serves as Head of the UNIB Library Unit explained, the theme raised at ICDC 2022 is “Prospect of Communication for Development in the Digital Era.” This theme is very relevant to current conditions and was discussed jointly by experts from four countries who were the resource persons.
The four resource persons are Dr. Azhar Khasim from Malaysia, Prof. Atish Prashar from India, Sakiroh Yaena Benharoon from Thailand and Wahyu Widiatuti, M.Sc from Indonesia (FISIP UNIB). “The presence of these four resource persons is expected to increase information and knowledge for FISIP UNIB lecturers and students as well as seminar participants from universities and other institutions,” said Dr. Alfarabi, while expressing his gratitude to all parties who have played a role in making this activity a success.
According to UNIB’s PR Team, the opening of the 1st ICDC FISIP UNIB was slightly different from usual. After playing the dol, a traditional Bengkulu musical instrument, symbolically by the Chancellor and Head of the Bengkulu Province Communications and Information Service accompanied by resource persons and the committee, Pewara suddenly summoned local Bengkulu artists to sing regional songs in front of the seminar participants.
However, instead of local artists performing, it was the lecturers and managers of the Bachelor of Communication Studies, Bachelor of Journalism and Master of Communication Studies who simultaneously sang several Bengkulu folk songs while dancing in the style of Indian dance. This scene was immediately greeted with loud applause by the seminar participants. Even the Chancellor and resource persons from abroad and guests at the VIP table spontaneously lifted their gadgets to record the moment, then invited them to dance together. Hmmm…hopefully it goes viral!
In seminars and discussions, Prof. Atish presented material on “Deconstructing Development Myths in The Digital Era Through Communication.” Then, Dr. Sakiroh discussed “Communication in Community-Based Tourism in the Digital Era,” and Dr. Azahar Kasim raised the theme “Narrative Journalism and Digital Information in the Digital Era.” Meanwhile, UNIB’s FISIP Lecturer, Wahyu Widiastuti, M.Sc discussed the theme “Mapping the Efficacy of Social Media in Political Communication: Challenges and Prospects in the Digital Era.”[Author : Purna Herawan/Humas].