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Month: April 2022

SFU Invent the Future brings much-needed diversity in AI

Posted on by Editorial Team

Simon Fraser University’s Invent the Future is Canada’s first and only summer enrichment program focused on bringing Artificial Intelligence (AI) expertise, community, and mentorship to young women in grade 9 to 12. During this AI scholars program, participants from across Canada work on team projects and connect with mentors and industry experts in a supportive yet challenging environment.

The program is hosted in association with AI4ALL, a non-profit organization working to increase inclusion and diversity in the field of AI. SFU was one of six universities participating in AI4ALL’s official rollout in 2018 and is the only participating university in Canada.

The program normally takes place in person at SFU’s Burnaby campus, but given the challenges of COVID-19, has taken place virtually since 2020, which has in fact allowed the program to attract participants from locations outside of British Columbia. “We’re thrilled that the virtual format allowed us to reach more students than ever before,” says program co-director and computing science professor Angelica Lim.

Despite the format change, the goals of the program remained. “We wanted to maintain four main goals of our program: building community, meeting role models, gaining expertise in AI and developing a portfolio project,” says Lim. To ensure the program was accessible for all participants, the organizers provided laptops to those who needed it.

While some students join the program with previous experience with AI, others are just getting started in the field. “It’s a really inclusive community where no one judges you if you don’t know certain things,” says Geri Vaflor, a participant who moved to Vancouver from the Philippines just a few months ago. “We’re here to learn, not to compete.”

The community aspect is what encourages alumni mentors like Helen Geng to give back to the program by sharing their knowledge with the participants. “I just want to be in an environment where I’m surrounded by like-minded people,” says Geng, who did not have prior experience with AI before joining the program in 2019. She is now preparing to study biomedical engineering at the University of Minnesota and says that she was influenced by the Invent the Future program when choosing her research path.

This influence can be attributed to the AI research and industry experts that the participants hear from as part of the program. Many of these talks are shared publicly as part of the program’s AI Week lecture series and also serve to show the participants what the future could have in store for them.

“If you go to people that are younger and show them that this can be in their career path, you can change who gets to go to grad school and who gets to be an amazing researcher,” says Sanja Fidler, a professor at the University of Toronto and presenter during the event. “This is the way that the Invent the Future program is changing the world.”

Bio-communication in educational technology practices by Professor Deni Darmawan

Posted on by UNIVERSITAS PENDIDIKAN INDONESIA

Bio Communication in Educational Technology Practices are works written by Prof. Dr. Deni Darmawan, M.Si., MCE in the inauguration of a professor at the Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia. He was appointed as a professor at the Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia in the field of education and communication science.

Nowadays, the demand for communication science is growing rapidly, especially in the field of educational and learning technology. During its development, the science of communication has produced a number of practical collaborative approaches, including the biocommunication approach.

Biocommunication is a new approach in the field of communication that can be adopted in educational and learning technology practices, especially digital learning. The object of this approach is speed of information processing, with the work area covering specific parts of the brain such as the prefrontal lobe, frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and central lobe, both in the left and right hemispheres.

As an illustration, in all the specific parts of the brain when processing a particular message, activity occurs in the form of intrapersonal communication behavior. Furthermore, when individuals are able to produce information quickly, they will use it in interpersonal communication practices. Both intra and interpersonal, both will be experienced and carried out in the education and learning process.

During its development, the existence of a biocommunication approach in educational technology praxis can be illustrated from two perspectives. The first perspective is on the learning information processing process that occurs in educational technology products. For example, when learning messages are programmed and entered into a computer-assisted instruction (CAI) model database. When students use the CAI model, they will call data and information from the learning content database quickly through a number of menus provided, then that’s when the biocommunication approach will work.

The second perspective, the location, and role of biocommunication are in the work system of specific parts of the left brain and right brain (prefrontal, frontal, temporal, parietal, parasagittal, and central), when receiving, processing, storing, and recalling learning information experienced by individual learners.

To date, the biocommunication approach has been used in artificial intelligence (AI) work systems. Basically, AI is a combination of brain work and technology systems designed by humans. The power of biocommunication has also become the foundation for a number of educational and learning technology products, such as; (1) computer based learning; (2) machine learning; (3) mobile learning; (4) augmented learning; (5) virtual reality learning, dan (6) blended learning bahkan virtual hologram learning.

“Biocommunication” in the era of “digital learning”

When teaching, it is often not easy for us to understand what students feel and think. This phenomenon can be analyzed through the biocommunication approach as I have examined the velocity analysis of specific parts of the brain starting from the prefrontal, frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, and central lobe, both located in the left hemisphere and the right brain. All these specific parts of the brain will work quickly if the stimulus received by the students’ senses is produced through learning technology practices.

As an illustration of how this information processing occurs in students, this is the following flow, starting from the learner receiving a number of learning messages received by the visual and audio senses, then processed by a specific part of the brain starting from the prefrontal sent to the frontal lobe, then sent to the temporal lobe to match what is heard, then sent to the parietal lobe to be defined and sent to the occipital lobe to understand its definition. The results of the process in the central lobe that bring the right and left hemispheres together are combined after the final product is sent and stored in short-term memory (STM). In order for that learning is not to be forgotten, the information that has been understood will be stored in long-term memory (LTM). In order to become knowledge, retrieval is carried out so that it can be used to analyze other phenomena. This learning pace is what is needed in the practice of educational technology, especially in the development of digital learning systems.

Finally, at the practical level, the biocommunication approach is expected to be able to provide a reference for educators in designing, implementing, assessing, and developing educational technology products based on digital learning in a more humane way. In the future, all educational technology engineering products will be manifested in the form of hypertutorial through biocommunication within the framework of building a digital learning community as proclaimed by the Ministry of Education and Culture.

Full scholarships announced for international applications to study Integrated Innovation

Posted on by bajinderscii

Full Scholarships have been announced for international applicants who wish to pursue the Bachelor of Arts and Science in Integrated Innovation (BAScii), a four-year degree programme offered by the Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation (ScII).

Launched in 2018, the four-year Bachelor programme is one of its kind, with many firsts to its credit. ScII holds the distinction of being the first educational institute in Thailand to achieve ISO 56002 accreditation. The school is also a hub of talented international faculty members who have joined its newly established Global Innovator Faculty Towards Early-Career Development (GIFTED) Faculty Scholars programme. Additionally, all students must spend a semester studying abroad in a top-class international elite institution. A good example is our students currently enrolled in the Exchange StartUp Semester at the Sutardja Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (SCET), University of California Berkeley, where they have been featured on the SCET website and in a video.

“Students are expected to develop startups before graduating, and as young entrepreneurs, owning a startup may be the most rewarding, exciting, and positive experience of their lives,” Professor Worsak Kanok-Nukulchai, Executive Director, ScII, said. “We want our students to become Technology Innovators, Innovation Entrepreneurs, Social Transformers, and Digital Age Professionals,” Prof Worsak added. The school equips its students with the skills necessary to face a changing world, where technological disruption is upending societies (Read Philosophy & Approach: LINK).

All BAScii students take digital technology and entrepreneurship courses, which will serve as the foundation for startups in four focus areas: health and wellness, smart cities, sustainable development, and applied digital intelligence.

Industry-sponsored scholarships cover the full cost of tuition and fees of 1.768 million baht (approximately USD 55,000) for international students from outside Thailand. Moreover, needy students will receive a monthly stipend to cover the cost of living in Bangkok. ScII has also partnered with several corporate and industrial organizations, which will offer internships and projects to BAScii students.

Applications for admission and scholarships are now open until May 3, 2022. You can apply through the ScII website.

Details of Scholarship Programme: https://scii.chula.ac.th/blog/call-for-scholarship-applications-from-international-students-2022

Contact Admissions: [email protected]

Novel synthetic process for core structure of fungal antiviral agent Neoechinulin B and its derivatives

Posted on by Tokyo University of Science

The fungus-derived compound neoechinulin B demonstrates promising antiviral activity. To realize its potential as an antiviral agent, however, a viable method for preparing more potent derivatives synthetically is necessary. In a recent breakthrough, scientists from Japan designed a simple route for synthesizing neoechinulin B and its derivatives under mild laboratory conditions. Neoechinulin B and six derivatives exhibited excellent antiviral activities against Hepatitis C virus and SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.

The solutions to many of humanity’s problems can be found within nature. For instance, who could have guessed that an antibiotic as powerful as penicillin would be found in a common mold, or that the drug aspirin would be derived from the bark of the willow tree?

Research into natural products has become a crucial part of drug discovery. Natural products have exhibited promising specificity and efficacy when used against a variety of pathogens, including viruses. For instance, an organic compound called neoechinulin B, isolated from the fungus Eurotium rubrum, has demonstrated antiviral activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV). However, the isolation of such compounds from natural sources can get quite tedious and expensive. Yet, the attempts to synthetically synthesize it seem to be very scarce.

Thus, a group of scientists from across Japan rose to the occasion and embarked on a mission: To discover a simple route for synthesizing neoechinulin B under laboratory conditions. The team included Prof. Kouji Kuramochi and Dr. Koichi Watashi from Tokyo University of Science, along with Dr. Hirofumi Ohashi, Dr. Shusuke Tomoshige, Dr. Kenji Ohgane, and Dr. Shinji Kamisuki from the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tohoku University, Ochanomizu University, and Azabu University, respectively. Their findings were recently published in the Journal of Natural Products.

Commenting on their strategy, Prof. Kuramochi, the lead author of the study, says: “We designed a streamlined two-step synthesis strategy to obtain diketopiperazine scaffold of neoechinulin B. The process involved the base-induced coupling of available piperazine-2,5-dione derivative was aldehydes. The coupled products were then treated with a commercial reagent called tetra-n-butylammonium fluoride (TBAF) which gave us neoechinulin B and its 16 other derivatives.”

To ascertain the efficacy of their products, the team tested the antiviral activity of neoechinulin B and its derivatives against different positive-strand RNA viruses, such as HCV and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). They found that some derivatives showed anti-HCV activity with minimal cell toxicity, while others showed anti-SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, six derivatives exhibited both strong anti-HCV and SARS-CoV-2.

Further studies by the research team uncovered that neoechinulin B and one derivative can reduced the transcriptional activity of liver X receptors (LXRs). This subsequently disrupts the formation of double-membrane vesicles (DMV), which are the sites where viral RNA replication occur. This process results in reduced viral replication in the infected cells.

Along with the 17 active compounds, the scientists also produced three other compounds which, while structurally related to the others, possessed none of the antiviral properties. Further investigation into their molecular structure revealed that inactive compounds were missing the exomethylene moiety which is the key to the antiviral activities of neoechinulin B and its 16 derivatives against HCV and SARS-CoV-2.

The team believes that the insights from this research could be used as a framework for the development of new broad-spectrum antiviral drugs. The study also solidifies the fact that natural products can act as promising lead compounds for the development of antiviral drugs. “The skeleton of neoechinulin B is simple, but only one chemical synthesis method has been reported in the past. Our research presented a simple and viable method for obtaining promising antiviral compounds bringing us one step closer to its practical application,” concludes Prof. Kuramochi.

 

***

 

Reference

Authors: Kota Nishiuchi1, Hirofumi Ohashi1,2,3, Kazane Nishioka1,2, Masako Yamasaki1,2, Masateru Furuta1, Takumi Mashiko1, Shusuke Tomoshige1,4, Kenji Ohgane1,5, Shinji Kamisuki6, Koichi Watashi1,2,3, and Kouji Kuramochi1

Title of original paper: Synthesis and Antiviral Activities of Neoechinulin B and Its Derivatives

Journal: Journal of Natural Products

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c01120

Affiliations:

1Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Japan.

2Department of Virology II, National Institute of Infectious

Diseases, Japan.

3Research Center for Drug and Vaccine Development, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Japan.

4Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Japan.

5Department of Chemistry, Ochanomizu University, Japan.

6School of Veterinary Medicine and Center for Human and Animal Symbiosis Science, Azabu University, Japan.

Thammasat University lecturer initiates fact-checking mechanism for television newsrooms, digital media

Posted on by Thammasat University

Fake News Fighter Project: Building a network to create a body of knowledge and a mechanism for solving fake news problems, initiated by Asst. Prof. Dr. Wilaiwan Chongwilaikasem, Mr. Peeraphon Anutarasoth and Mr. Natharawut Muangsuk.

It is a collaborative project between the Faculty of Journalism and Mass Communication, Thammasat University and the Sure and Share Center, MCOT Thai News Agency under the strategy of the Thai Media Fund with the aims to be a mechanism to combat fake news along with building and expanding the network.

The inspiration for this project started with the Fake News situation in Thailand that came in the form of news visible within various media, not only social media, but in the professional media such as newspapers, radio and television, many fake news are unwittingly presented.

With technology that makes fake news harder to detect and the urgency of presenting the news yet at the same time intending to present fake news for marketing or political purposes that affects not only the individual but the overall picture of society.

Therefore, this project was brought to the attention of the target group of communication students who will be media producers’ in the future through installation of knowledge mechanisms to detect fake news under the concept of fact-checking with the role of fact checker that foreign news agencies attach great importance to. This is considered a new body of knowledge in the teaching of journalism in which fake news is a social issue in the world today.

It is used as a tool for both positive and negative outcomes for fake news victims, but it generates a huge negative impact on society. Fake news is therefore something that every one of all ages should have the knowledge and skills to detect and inquire into, thus enabling the initiation of this project.

The commercialisation of academic research innovations from the Faculty of Applied Sciences, UiTM

Posted on by norashirene (Ranking Champion, FSG)

One of the positive impacts of research is the ability to translate research results and innovation from the lab into commercialized products.

This commercialization will subsequently contribute to societal benefit, economic growth, industry partnerships and entrepreneurship. In line with Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation’s (MOSTI) Strategic Plan 2021-2025, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) is committed to accelerating innovation development and commercialization as part of its educational mission.

One of UiTM’s successful research innovations is green products by Assoc. Prof. Dr Rahmah Mohamed, founder of RM Poly Pack Sdn Bhd and head of Green and Functional Polymer Research Group at the Faculty of Applied Sciences. By using Green Technology, Dr Rahmah and her team successfully manufactured a wide range of products using non-toxic and biodegradable materials to address the issue of pollution caused by plastic wastes. Her inventions include the Bio Plastic Bag, Bio Straws, Plastic Bottles and Degradable Disposable Apron.

Their Bio Plastic Bag products range from oil-based polymer Photodegradable Bag to starch-based Green Bio Bag, which are not only biodegradable but also highly durable. The Bio Straws are polylactide- (PLA), starch- and starch hybrid-based, designed to be eco-friendly, compostable, and biodegradable. In the wake of increasing plastic pollution in our ecosystem, RM Poly Pack green products offer substitutes for traditional plastics.

This innovative research effort has contributed to many positive outcomes, including the efficient and responsible use of natural resources, awareness on bioproducts usage and talent development for staff and students.

PAINA Chilli Sauce is another innovative product created from the lab of the Faculty of Applied Sciences. It was developed in 2017 by Dr Azizah Othman, Dr Fadhilah Jailani, and Dr Siti Roha Ab. Mutalib from the Department of Food Science and Technology. Made from quality, locally grown pineapple, the sauce is versatile and can be used as a condiment, marinade or incorporated into various dishes to create a refreshing tropical taste. With the support from the Product and Market Incubation (PMI) programme under UiTM’s Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) and UiTM’s Business Innovation & Technology Commercialization Centre (BITCOM), PAINA Chilli sauce is now commercially produced and marketed.

A more recent innovative research output from UiTM is ‘Dr Azri’s Perfume’. The product developed at the Faculty of Applied Sciences consists of a range of premium perfumes with a long-lasting scent. A typical Eau de parfum (EDP) fragrance can last between 8-9 hours; however, Dr Azri’s Perfume was formulated to last up to 72 hours on fabric surfaces. The product’s founder, ChM. Dr Mohd Azri Ab Rani and his team have developed a way to reduce the volatility rate in the perfume with a novel fixative agent that acts as an adhesive material.

By incorporating various extracts, five different scents were developed: The Man, Crush, Dr Azri x His Student, My Subject, and Founder’s Fav. Dr Azri has also created charitable opportunities by donating the profits made from the products to the construction of water wells with electric pumps (Wakaf Telaga) in Cambodia. No doubt, this is one of the many positive outcomes of transitioning innovative products to the markets.

In promoting research excellence, the Faculty of Applied Sciences, UiTM, is moving towards producing more commercialised research and development innovations through collaborations with the industry. Strong university-industry partnerships will enhance recognition, visibility, and graduate employability and ultimately bring numerous benefits to the university, the country, and the global community.

Jockey Club Dance Well Project holds train-the-trainer programme

Posted on by Communications Office

Organised by the School of Dance at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, The Jockey Club Dance Well Project is a creative movement programme designed to include people with Parkinson’s disease and people of different ages and abilities through regular dance classes and activities in artistic spaces.

The project is developed from the Dance Well initiative originated in Italy in 2013.

The first stage of this project is a 60-hour hybrid Train-the-Trainer Programme providing training for dance artists and arts practitioners who want to develop a speciality working with people with Parkinson’s disease. Participants will learn about the disease and modify movement teaching to improve the lives of those living with Parkinson’s disease.

Date: March – June 2022 (Detailed timetable in the registration link below)
Location: HKAPA or online platform
Facilitator: Overseas and local artists, researchers, healthcare and social professionals
Free of charge, limited quota
Participants who have completed the Train-the-Trainer Programme may be invited to join the recruitment of #Dancewell teachers for #Dancewell classes to the Parkinson’s disease community in the coming three years.

ENROL NOW: https://forms.gle/4YFyenUpMjeUEWhs5
Enquiry: 5990-2223 / [email protected]

EdUHK’s Dr Leung Chi-hin composes The Sync (2020) for Fixed Media, Live Electronics and Audience Participation

Posted on by eduhk

Dr Leung Chi-hin, Assistant Professor at the Department of Cultural and Creative Arts, The Education University of Hong Kong, was invited by Contemporary Musiking Hong Kong (CMHK) to be a performing artist in the Out Of Out Heads (OOOH!) mini-festival to explore a new way for intensely intimate exchanges at close proximity in May 2020. The theme of the mini-festival was social distancing in response to the current pandemic situation.

The composition Sync (2020) for Fixed Media, Live Electronics and Audience Participation was composed by Dr Leung. He performed for five audience members one by one for eight to 10 minutes each.

Sync (2020) made use of Max MSP to program the audio effect and controls based on a fixed media created by the composer. The artist performed to only one audience member at a time with a laptop while providing headphones and a tablet for the audience members to manipulate some of the audio and musical effects during the performance.

The approach to the composition is based on morphing the connection between multi-timbral creation and sophisticated rhythm generation. Echoing the title Sync, the composition creates an unexpected expression and tension through the synchronous and asynchronous rhythms achieved through the exploration of the possibilities of contrapuntal writings.

The eight-minute, single-movement composition begins with propulsive rhythm to establish a stable, energetic tempo. Gradually, a more complex effect is created by deviating between synchronous and asynchronous rhythms. This polyrhythm-like realm against the stable opening rhythm generates a competitive mood, providing the audience with a unique audio experience. While the development of time in the work holds its energy and excitement, its timbre and visual elements play an essential role in creating a splendid, ever-changing kaleidoscope of colour.

The composition was recorded and adapted to an online environment at Monash University Museum of Art in June 2020.

Amity University Rajasthan organises 2nd International Convention on Green Environment, Technology & Entrepreneurship through Innovation (ICGETEI 2022)

Posted on by Amity University Jaipur

Amity University Rajasthan in association with Amity Innovation Incubator organized a three-day 2nd International Convention on Green Environment, Technology & Entrepreneurship through Innovation (ICGETEI-2022) from March 03rd – 05th, 2022 highlighting green environment, technology, and innovation-driven global trends in entrepreneurship.

ICGETEI 2022 provided a comprehensive forum to exchange knowledge and ideas on various domains and sub-domains of entrepreneurship, the promising trends of green environment, deploying AI and cognitive technologies in entrepreneurship.

The conference was inaugurated by Dr. Ashok K. Chauhan, Hon’ble Founder President, Ritnand Balved Education Foundation and Dr Aseem Chauhan, Hon’ble Chancellor, Amity University, Rajasthan.

Prof (Dr.) Rakesh Bhatnagar, Vice-Chancellor, Amity University Rajasthan & Patron, ICGETEI-2022 gave the inaugural address of three-day convention.

The opening address and welcoming remarks was given by Prof. (Dr.) Amit Jain Hon’ble Pro Vice-Chancellor, Amity University, Rajasthan & Patron, ICGETEI-2022.

Professor Mike Hinchey President of IFIP, the International Federation for Information Processing, Professor of Software Engineering and Head of Department of Computer Science & Information Systems at University of Limerick, Ireland, Emeritus Director of Lero-the Irish Software Research Centre stated “with a rigorous academic pursuit of Amity University towards excellence and aspiration to reach out to the star of perfection”, Amity is serving towards innovative and empathetic participation in transforming the society.

Prof. Sanjay Misra, Ostfold University, Halden, Norway, Shri B K Tripathy, General Manager, NABARD will grace the inaugural of three-day convention as a Guest of Honor. Prof. Sandeep Verma, Secretary, Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB) congratulated Amity University for organising three conferences under one umbrella.

The theme of the conference was delivered by keynote speakers- Dr. Clare Walsh Head of Education, Institute of Analytics, United Kingdom, Prof. Dr. Kamal Kant Dwivedi, SVP, Ritnand Balved Education Foundation, Prof. R.K. Shyamasundar, FIEEE, FACM Distinguished V. Professor, Department of Computer, Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, Dr. Sameer K. Rohadia, Data Analyst & IT Trainer, Hannover, Germany. He spoke about the Institutional Entrepreneurship Theory, Prof. S.L.Kothari Vice President, Amity Science Technology Innovation Foundation, Amity University, Rajasthan, Prof. S. Hemalatha, School of Life Sciences, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai and Dr. Krishna Kant Sharma Department of Microbiology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak. Dr. Waralak V Siricharoen Faculty of Info. & Communication Tech., Silpakorn University, Thailand.

The Guest of honour for the Valedictory Session, Mr.Mukesh Vyas, Director Indian Society for Training & Development stated “there are hardly any cutting-edge innovations in our country, we need to think out of the box to see innovative and creative ideas coming out of young minds. Ms Mugdha Sinha (IAS) Secretary, DST, Government of Rajasthan marked her august presence as the Chief Guest at valedictory session. Ms Sinha said, “innovation is not about making new inventions, but rather about recognizing how to take advantage of opportunities and changes.”

Dr Manju Kaushik, Organising Chair, ICGETEI-2022 highlighted the three-day outcome report of ICGETEI 2022. Dr. Kaushik said that during the three-day convention, 160 papers was presented, authored by more than 60 researchers coming from different countries (China, Australia, Bulgaria, Malaysia, Finland, Indonesia, France, Japan, and others) in three conferences and special session.

The three-day International Convention was fruitful for industry experts, academics, researchers, and research scholars together for exchanging and sharing their experiences and research on various aspects of innovation, green environment and entrepreneurship.

UMY’s 7th International Cultural and Culinary Festival held offline

Posted on by umy

As a campus with the slogan “Young and Global”, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) continues to expand its reach in the international arena in the interest of strategic cooperation with partners. One of them is through the 7th International Cultural and Culinary Festival (ICCF) on Wednesday (23/03) at Sportorium UMY.

With the theme “Harmony Through Diversity”, the event was enlivened with several agendas including a Street Parade, International Street Kitchen, and Traditional Performance Competition.

Unlike the previous year, the 7th ICCF is part of the UMY anniversary series and was held offline with strict health protocols.

This year, there are 67 students from 24 countries. In addition, it is also supported by the Turkish Embassy in Ankara, the French Embassy, ​​the Royal Thai Embassy, ​​the Bangladeshi Embassy, ​​and other international partners.

This was conveyed by the Head of the International and Cooperation Institute, Fitri Arofiati, S.Kep., Ns., MAN, Ph.D., “This year’s ICCF is one of the UMY anniversary series. And this is an annual program attended by international students not only at UMY but also international students in Jogja and its surroundings. This year, as many as 67 students from 24 different countries in the world participated. Also fully supported by Turkish Embassy Ankara, French Embassy, ​​Royal Thai Embassy, ​​Embassy and other international partners.” explained Fitri in her speech.

The 7th ICCF aimed to promote international cultural and culinary exchanges. As well as building international relations between students in an international scope. “ICCF is a platform for gathering and exchanging cultures such as language, dance, songs and of course food,” Fitri added. In this 7th ICCF event, a collaboration between Australian Volunteers International and UMY was also signed.

In his speech, Prof. Dr. Ir. Gunawan Budiyanto., MP, IPM., said that ICCF is one of the programs that is run to improve the international atmosphere. “ICCF is actually a program that cannot be separated from outbound and inbound methods to improve the international atmosphere. We know that during the pandemic, there was a decline in foreign students who came to learn face to face on campus. Previously, there were 70 to 80 foreign students, while during COVID-19 there were only 30 who all have complicated immigration procedures. So this year, the outbound and inbound programs to send students abroad have been running smoothly again,” explained Gunawan.

Gunawan also hopes that the ICCF event, apart from enhancing the international atmosphere, can create awareness at the student level that we are part of the world. “In addition, ICCF hopes that it can create awareness at the student level that we are part of the world,” concluded Gunawan. (NSN)