iqbalfahmi
Apr 21, 2019
Scholarship / I have implemented change and reform in the biggest student organization in Indonesia [2]
In 2013, which was my third year studying medicines, I was chosen to lead one of the biggest student organization in Indonesia, as a Vice President. Hence, I had to manage thousands of members from 17 different medical schools and responsible on human resources and project management. The organization was focusing on supporting the accomplishment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The first thing my team and I did was analyzing problems and potentials the organization had. We found that the main issue of our projects was the lack of impacts to community. Therefore, as person in charge, I decided to reform the projects from mostly short-term project into more sustainable and impactful one, in the form of community development.
In the beginning, it was a challenge to influence and change members' mindset to stop making short-term project and start developing a community. Moreover, the idea of community development was quite strange for most medical students. To deal with the problem, I formulated a national-based training to gather all universities' representatives.
It was an online training since the universities were far apart. A national guideline book was also made as supporting tool to learn the fundamental of community development and direct universities to set up a project. I found it was an effective method to provide knowledge and skills to university delegates and encourage them to organize similar training locally. As a result, local trainings were made promptly by emphasizing intersectoral collaborations. Within months, members were ready to involve in communities. We planned to develop at least 10 communities in the first year.
It was succeeded and was a pleasure to realize that the organization had been reformed. Nowadays, there are up to 23 communities across the country being developed by collaboration with social faculties, governmental, and non-governmental organizations. Keeping up with the global issues, the focus shifts from MDGs to SDGs.
Managing Change (AAS Essay)
In 2013, which was my third year studying medicines, I was chosen to lead one of the biggest student organization in Indonesia, as a Vice President. Hence, I had to manage thousands of members from 17 different medical schools and responsible on human resources and project management. The organization was focusing on supporting the accomplishment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The first thing my team and I did was analyzing problems and potentials the organization had. We found that the main issue of our projects was the lack of impacts to community. Therefore, as person in charge, I decided to reform the projects from mostly short-term project into more sustainable and impactful one, in the form of community development.
In the beginning, it was a challenge to influence and change members' mindset to stop making short-term project and start developing a community. Moreover, the idea of community development was quite strange for most medical students. To deal with the problem, I formulated a national-based training to gather all universities' representatives.
It was an online training since the universities were far apart. A national guideline book was also made as supporting tool to learn the fundamental of community development and direct universities to set up a project. I found it was an effective method to provide knowledge and skills to university delegates and encourage them to organize similar training locally. As a result, local trainings were made promptly by emphasizing intersectoral collaborations. Within months, members were ready to involve in communities. We planned to develop at least 10 communities in the first year.
It was succeeded and was a pleasure to realize that the organization had been reformed. Nowadays, there are up to 23 communities across the country being developed by collaboration with social faculties, governmental, and non-governmental organizations. Keeping up with the global issues, the focus shifts from MDGs to SDGs.