COO of EIGER Adventure Land Shares Stories with SKPM IPB University Students

The Department of Communication Science and Community Development (SKPM), Faculty of Human Ecology (Fema) IPB University held a guest lecture to conclude the final week of the Extension and Innovation Communication (KPM121C) course. 

This event featured IPB University alumnus and practitioner Faris Priyanto, SKPm, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of EIGER Adventure Land, as the guest speaker. The event took place at the GMSK Auditorium at IPB University and was attended by 195 people, including students, lecturers, teaching assistants, and invited guests.

With the theme “Agile Learners for a Better Future: Extension and Transformative Leadership in Innovation Communication through a Problem Solving Approach,” this guest lecture emphasized the importance of adaptive skills, transformative leadership, and innovation communication in responding to the rapidly changing world. 

Dr Siti Amanah, the Course Coordinator, said that this guest lecture was an important medium for students to understand how innovation communication and transformative leadership, in collaboration with various stakeholders, can drive meaningful change that has a positive social, economic, and environmental impact. 

In his interactive presentation, Faris shared his career journey from management trainee to executive level. As an SKPM alumnus, he emphasized that being agile learners is not only about the ability to adapt, but also the ability to think structurally and respond to change. 

Faris emphasized that effective communication is highly dependent on the strategy of delivering messages. Innovation is more acceptable when communicated appropriately. “The ability to think logically, build a strong narrative, and establish meaningful relationships are assets that one must have in order to become an agile learner,” he said. 

According to him, this foundation will strengthen students’ capacity as effective leaders of change who bring success. The guest lecture was closed with a learning reflection session guided by moderators Dr Diah Retna Puspita and Dr Adi Firmansyah.

One of the participants interviewed after the event said he was inspired by Faris’s work and the various challenges he faced. He hoped to get an internship opportunity. According to him, the internship program is very interesting and important because it can hone work skills, including design thinking, effective communication, and problem solving. The guest lecture is an effort by the SKPM Department to strengthen the profile of graduates who are ready to face future challenges. (*/Rz) (IAAS/KQA)