Academic Recharging for IUP DEE Faculty Member with PKBI Awardees
PKBI or PDEC (Pre-Departure English Course) is one of annual scholarships funded by Kemenristekdikti to boost Indonesian lecturers’ capability in English competencies, especially in gaining higher IELTS (International English Language Testing System). By joining this course, it is hoped that lecturers have an appropriate IELTS score to pursue their doctoral degree overseas. In 2018 four lecturers from Universitas Negeri Semarang succeed to be selected to join this program starting from September up to December 2018, they were: Stephani Diah Pamelasari (FMIPA), Muhammad Zuhair Zahid (FMIPA), Fatona Suraya (FIK) and Inaya Sari Melati (FE). At the end of the program all lecturers reached IELTS score 7.0 and 7.5.
On Tuesday, 19th February 2019, IUP DEE successfully invited the awardees of PKBI to share their experience in learning IELTS through the “Academic Recharging IUP DEE: Learning IELTS with PKBI Awardees”. This event conducted by IUP DEE for faculty members and representatives of IUP DEE students. In the welcoming speech, Mr. Ahmad Nurkhin as the head for Department of Economics Education stated that English was a skill that needs intensive learning process, it cannot be built in one night, it needs persistency and hard work. Therefore, he had a high expectancy to PKBI awardee to share their knowledge how to learn IELTS independently and effectively as well.
This event started at 8 am up to 4 pm, as many as 30 lecturers and 10 students studied together enthusiastically. At the beginning, Mrs. Fatona Suraya opened the discussion about listening, continued by Ms. Stephani delivered speaking materials. After lunch break, the discussion was continued by Mr. Zuhair and Mrs. Inaya by talking about reading and writing respectively.
As the person in charge for this event, Mrs. Ratieh Widhiastuti said that she was really satisfied with the active participation from IUP DEE faculty members and students. She also thought it was a great beginning for IUPians to studying IELTS more independent in order to increasing their English skills.
(Wisudani Rahmaningtyas/Executive Team IUP DEE)