Study Program of Communication Vocational School IPB Attends General Lecture at University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur

Study program of Communication Vocational School Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) had International Outbound Programs activity in Malaysia (28/8 – 2/9). This program, which has been an annual program, was participated by 35 students and accompanied by two lecturer’s assistants and five lecturers.

According to Head of Study Program of Communication, Dr. Wahyu Budi, International Outbound Programs activity aims to provide insights and experiences for IPB students especially Study Program of Communication in Southeast Asia regional level so students will not be like "frog in under coconut shell" who never knows the outside world.

International Outbound Programs activity was started with visiting University of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. In this visit, International Outbound Programs participants attended general lecture which was delivered by Fadli Abdullah, PhD, lecturer from Department of Media and Communication Studies Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya, with title “An Overview of the Book Publishing Industry in Malaysia”.

In this general lecture, it was explained that the development of Malaysia’s animation and publishing industry is still left behind compared to Indonesia. Beside that, although we are already entering digital era, people in Malaysia prefer to read printed book rather that e-book. In Malaysia, e-book as an alternative of printed book only contributed less than one percent from overall book publishing.

According to Fadli, who is also lecturer in University of Malaya, economic pressure factor also highly affects book publishing industry in Malaysia. It can be seen overall on the decreasing of book sales due to the increasing living cost.

“Average Malaysian people read eight to twelve books per year, this number is still far below the standard set by UNESCO that is one thousand book titles for one million population. Relating to that, Malaysia’s government itself has started promoting movement “Dasar Galakan Membaca” to increase the interest in reading of Malaysia people,” he said.

Other than attending general lecture at University of Malaya, International Outbound Programs participants also visited The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) for Malaysia that is located in Kuala Lumpur. In this occasion, the participants had opportunity to discuss with Education and Cultural attaché of KBRI Malaysia, Prof. Ari Purbayanto.

In that discussion, it was explained that almost 60 percent of Indonesia citizens (WNI) who are living in Malaysia only had graduated Junior High School (SMP) and in illegal status. Furthermore, most of those WNI does not understand about online system that has been implemented by KBRI even they has smartphone.

“The majority of WNI who live here in Malaysia does not understand the online system that has been implemented by KBRI, so WNI cumulation at KBRI until late night is often the case. They has smartphone only to use social media,” explained Prof. Ari Purbayanto.

In addition to go to Malaysia, International Outbound Programs participants also went to Hat Yai City Thailand. During this two-days visit in Thailand, the participants were taken to observe the interaction between Muslim and non Muslim people who lives in Thailand. The participants visited various tourist destinations such as Cham Puak Camp, Sleeping Budha Statue, and Samila Beach. On the last day of International Outbound Programs, the participants were able to visit many attractive tourism places in Singapore. (qa)