Webinar and Grand Launching of P2A 2025 ‘Creative Home of One ASEAN Community’
The International Program Communication (IPC) at UII held a webinar and grand launch of P2A ICE CREAM 2025 on 12 August 2025. This international mobility programme differs significantly from previous years, as while the 2024 edition was held in Indonesia and Malaysia, this year’s programme will take place in Malaysia and Thailand. The journey will commence from 18–30 August 2025.
With the theme ‘Choco’ or ‘Creative Home of One ASEAN Community,’ the train icon is highlighted as a symbol that the journey through Malaysia and Thailand will be undertaken via land routes.
The event was opened by Dr. Herman Felani, a lecturer from the Department of Communications Science at UII, who noted that amid the current challenging situation, crossing national borders has become a real-life experience.
“The world is not currently in a good situation; there are conflicts in many parts of the world, including areas very close to us in ASEAN. Therefore, I think the goal of P2A is to provide opportunities for the young generation in ASEAN to truly experience ASEAN by participating in mobility programs. One of the main concepts of P2A is land mobility traveling across borders,” explained Dr. Herman Felani.
What does P2A ICE CREAM CHOCO 2025 mean? It is an intercultural academic and creative mobility programme involving students from Universitas Islam Indonesia (Indonesia), Universiti Utara Malaysia (Malaysia), Suan Dusit University (Bangkok), and Chiang Mai Rajabhat University (Thailand).
In this project, students from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand will collaborate to produce a digital magazine about Creative Communities in Yogyakarta, Penang, Kedah, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai. Audio-visual media will be incorporated into the magazines via QR codes. The team is divided into three divisions: copywriting, photography, and videography. The team must consult with their supervisors regularly. The topic of the project is Passage to ASEAN International Course on Creative Media: Creative Home of One Community in ASEAN (P2A ICE CREAM CHOCO)
Webinar Topic
To support this programme, students who join this programme will receive an overview of the material provided by Dr. Zaki Habibi and Dr. Asmidah binti Alwi.
Led by Dian Dwi Anisa, M.A., the discussion was interactive. The first material from Dr. Zaki Habibi, a lecturer in the Department of Communications Science at UII, focused on the topic titled ‘Creative Communities as alternative voices in the City: The concepts, the trajectories, and the methods’.
“Each of you, as participants of P2A, can actually stand by your own point of view. Do not leave it behind, because it can expand further during the programme,” he said, opening the discussion.
In general, the material he presented was based on his previous work, publications, and several studies related to a specific project called ‘Managed Urban Creative Activities in Southeast Asia’.
“Most of the cases are from Java as well as Malaysia, particularly Penang. You will see some examples from these places. Beyond that, the following insights also come from several research studies dealing with particular topics such as visual and sensory aspects, the urban environment, festivals, and artistic projects,” he added.
He also invited participants to reflect on various questions such as, “In your own opinion, what makes a city creative?”, “What do you want to see or experience in a creative city?”, and “How can people contribute creatively to make a vibrant yet liveable city?”.
The second presentation was by Dr. Asmidah binti Alwi, a lecturer at SCIMPA UUM, on the topic ‘From cyntok bhatiq to Batik Tanah Lembah Bujang: Creative Community Development’.
Specifically, the material described the process of a creative project that began in 2019. This project focused on creative experiments in designing batik motifs inspired by the unique flora around the University of Northern Malaysia (UUM). In 2020, the project received funding in the form of a grant from the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education. This funding enabled the team to focus their attention and efforts on rural community development through the batik industry. In other words, the project is not only oriented towards art and design but also aims to create positive socio-economic impacts for rural communities through the development of the batik industry as a source of income and community empowerment.
“What started as an art project soon became a bridge between heritage, creativity, and economic opportunities,” said Dr. Asmidah.
‘From a small community initiative to a dynamic creative centre, the Cyntok Bhaiq project has sparked entrepreneurship, created jobs, and strengthened cultural identity through batik art, transforming heritage into opportunities and community pride,’ she said, concluding his presentation.
Support for P2A ICE CREAM Choco from Various Parties
At this grand launch, various forms of support were received. Also joining from P2A ICE CREAM were Ir. Wiryono Raharjo, M.Arch., Ph.D., Vice Rector for Partnerships & Entrepreneurship, Prof. Masduki, Dean of FISB UII, as well as lecturers from Universiti Utara Malaysia (Malaysia), Suan Dusit University (Bangkok), and Chiang Mai Rajabhat University (Thailand).
“The peace campaign in Southeast Asia also involves knowledge exchange beyond the fields of communication, journalism, public relations, and so on. More importantly, there is a strategic programme related to the University of Islam Indonesia. I am confident that this programme will also be more involved in addressing global issues in Southeast Asia, particularly in the area of student mobility. Advancing our university means not only teaching but also involving our students domestically. However, we need to encourage them to venture abroad—to gain experience, build connections, and share, especially our students, both academics and social activists. This is how we bring Yogyakarta’s voice to the world.” Prof. Masduki
“Congratulations to the Department of Communication Studies on the launch of this exciting programme and the implementation of the three-step P2A concept: learning, knowledge, experience, and understanding.” Ir. Wiryono Raharjo, M.Arch., Ph.D.
