With a population of more than 600 million and GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of $ 2.31 billion, ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) is rapidly growing as a major economic power in Asia and also as a driver of global economic growth. “When the economies of neighboring countries such as China and India are slowing down and when the United States starts to shift its focus to the East, the ASEAN region is increasingly becoming a destination for investment,” said Prof. Dr. Tulus Warsito, M.Sc., lecturer of International Relations, Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY), when giving his speech at the public lecture for the participants of the 2020 UMY-IPIREL Summer School.
This activity was officially opened by the dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Dr. Titin Purwaningsih, on Wednesday (19/08). In addition to the participants, this activity was also attended by the representative of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Heritage of Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Dr. Rizal Zamani, and Head of the International Relations Study Program, Dr. Nur Azizah. UMY-IPIREL Summer School 2020 will last for one month from August to September. By providing two courses, namely International Policy and Indonesian Diplomacy and Southeast Asian Politic Economy, this activity became the first Summer School program held by UMY’s IPIREL (International Program of International Relations).
This activity was attended by 15 students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah. “ASEAN is the third-largest single economic bloc in Asia after China and India. It is called a single block because there are 10 countries that have integrated their economies. In fact, these ten countries share a free trade zone. Hopefully, at the next Summer School activity, we can bring participants from other universities and other countries in ASEAN, “said Dr. Sugeng Riyanto, IPIREL program director.
This activity received appreciation from the UMY International Relations Office (IRO). Yordan Gunawan, as the head of IRO UMY, expressed his pride towards IPIREL for organizing this Summer School activity. He hoped that the collaboration between participating universities and UMY could continue. “I firmly believe that the cooperation that exists between UMY and Universiti Malaysia Sabah can be strengthened in the coming years, and can be expanded in levels not only at the department or faculty level but also at the university level,” he added. (ays)
