Semarang – August 21, 2024, The Department of International Relations, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Diponegoro, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, held a socialization agenda titled “Achieve Career in International Organizations, Now!” to guide on pursuing careers in international organizations.
The event was held hybrid with participants from UNDIP students and other institutions. The event took place on-site in the Theater Room of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at UNDIP, with approximately 150 UNDIP students in attendance, and an additional 100 participants from various universities and institutions joined online.
The event was opened by a speech from Mr. Yophy Ichsan Wardana who is the Secretary of the Directorate General of Multilateral Cooperation at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In his speech, he said that Indonesia’s representation in various international organizations is still low. Therefore, he encouraged young people to get involved in international organizations. “Currently, there are 825 Indonesian citizens who hold important positions in international organizations, but that is only 0.7% of all UN staff. We are still low compared to other countries,” he said.
Mr. Wardana also explained that the event was part of the Ministry’s efforts to bridge global issues with the national agenda, and vice versa, to enhance Indonesia’s role in various regions by increasing the number of Indonesian citizens working in international organizations. “It is essential to disseminate information on career opportunities in international organizations so that young students can better prepare themselves,” he added before concluding his remarks.
The second speech was delivered by Dr. Teguh Yuwono, M.Pol.Admin, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at UNDIP. He expressed his hope that UNDIP students would be able to fill key positions in international organizations. Students are encouraged to maximize their academic quality and personal development with the facilities the faculty provides.
The event then continued with presentations and discussions. One of the speakers was Ms. Indah Susanti, Country Coordinator for UN Volunteers Indonesia, who explained the steps to start a career in a UN Agency, of which there are 26 in Indonesia. Ms. Susanti outlined several pathways to a UN career, including internships, consulting roles, project personnel positions, the Global Talent Pool, and the Young Professionals Programme (YPP). However, she also emphasized that applicants are not necessarily required to start with an internship and may directly apply for a specific position or program.
The second speaker was Topan Renyaan, a representative of UNODC Bangkok staff. Mr. Topan explained the various benefits of working in an international organization, such as improving leadership skills and social interaction with various cultures. He also gave some tips for applying to international organizations, including determining which organization you want to go to, building as wide a network as possible, not hesitating to try to apply, and most important thing is to always enrich yourself with courses/training.
The third speaker, Dr. Reni Windiani, Head of the Department of International Relations at the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences UNDIP, highlighted several benefits of working in international organizations, including developing international competencies, addressing global issues, and building extensive international networks. She hopes that the alumni of International Relations UNDIP will serve as cultural ambassadors for Indonesia on the global level and play important roles in advancing both the nation and the global community.
The moderator closed the discussion session that afternoon with the hope that a small effort from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to add little by little young people who plunge into international organizations and bring Indonesia’s name to the global arena.
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