Be Productive

When the new semester begins, we are highly motivated to schedule our activities, start classes, work on our research proposal, write papers for publication, start a chapter of our new book, start the research activity, or prepare our slides for some invited seminars to come. 

However, such productivity won't last long without proper time and energy management. 

I have always been interested in how we could increase our productivity as academics since I've realized that we always have a massive pile of work and, without knowing it, always add things to our plates unconsciously. This is where we need to determine if our plan is aligned with our big focus, especially when the academics tend to have different interests. Some of them like research, but most of them love teaching. Since the performance review is always related to education, research, and community services, most academics think staying close to the performance review aspects is more important than developing their skills in other areas. To spend more time on other interests. 

We could still be successful, though, in many areas. We need courage, determination, and huge energy to cope with so many different activities. 

One wise piece of advice that I've heard came from Prof A Pellert, while we took her class in Berlin 2015. She said, "We couldn't possibly do everything, but we need to manage doing all activities at different times, at different stages of our life." She mentioned how difficult it is to divide our energy into all activities without putting our priorities in a certain period of time. 

To be professionally productive, another management guru, a Professor from Harvard Business School, Robert Pozen, who works as a consultant, academic, and father, mentioned that productivity will be easily achieved when we think carefully about our goals and then apply specific techniques to improve our effectiveness. So, we need to focus and increase productivity, which is worth the time and energy we spend. 

He divided three types of personal skills that need to be mastered by knowledge-based workers to have great productivity:
a) Effective reading- Stay focused on your purpose for reading
His method of reading:
- Grasp the structure of reading
- Read the introduction and conclusion
- Skim the tops of the paragraphs

b) Effective writing- Plan your writing to focus on the final product, make a map and translate the map into an actual piece of writing
His method of writing:
- Create outline
- Be persistent to revise it
- Make a routine or break the writing into smaller pieces

c) Effective speaking- Well prepared: structure the speech and keep practice
His method of speaking:
- Prepare a road map of speech
- Keep the speech relevant to the audience's background and time
- Engage the audience and highlight the takeaways 

I've seen many professionals in my area (civil engineers, researchers, academics) who have the skills to enhance their careers in the long term. They are very focused and engaged in being productive and work on their best to achieve many accomplishments in a relatively shorter time than us, the academics. I can't imagine how they could find the energy to get involved in some projects, write papers, and do regular presentations about their projects! The key is being effective and productive, of course!

So, now that we're the academics, perhaps we could learn a lot from them and stay productive throughout the semester without having trouble adjusting our focus and interests at work again to get results with flying colours. 

Pekanbaru, 
Source: Extreme Productivity, Robert C Pozen, HarperCollins

Berbagi Kiat mendapatkan Beasiswa Luar Negeri

Alhamdulillah, minat mahasiswa dan lulusan S1 untuk melanjutkan S2 ke luar negeri saat ini semakin meningkat. Mereka mulai menyadari kalau untuk bersaing di era global akan membutuhkan kompetensi di bidang keahlian dan soft skills seperti kepemimpinan, kemampuan bahasa asing, dan adaptasi dengan berbagai budaya. Disamping itu mereka juga mencari kesempatan untuk memperluas wawasan melalui hidup di negara asing secara mandiri, jalan-jalan gratis dan tentu saja teman-teman berbagai bangsa. Berhubung semua kompetensi dan kesempatan itu mahal harganya dan tidak dapat dibiayai oleh beasiswa ADB (Ayah dan Bunda) saja, maka mereka bersemangat mencoba mendapatkan beasiswa luar negeri dari berbagai negara donor. 

Post ini ditulis sehubungan dengan undangan Kelas Persiapan Beasiswa (KPB) Riau pada Sabtu, 16 Januari 2016.

Kegiatan berbagi informasi kebiasaan belajar di luar negeri, khususnya UK pernah kulakukan pada tahun 2002-2003. Pada masa itu, hal yang ditekankan bagi mahasiswa adalah kemandirian, adaptasi dan kerja keras agar dapat lulus tepat waktu. 

Berbagi kiat mendapatkan beasiswa luar negeri baru dimulai pada tahun 2012, saat organisasi mahasiswa (BEM Faperta, BEM Fakultas Teknik, BEM FMIPA) mulai mengundang beberapa dosen senior dan diriku untuk memotivasi mereka studi di luar negeri. Pada tahap ini mahasiswa dikenalkan dengan jenis-jenis beasiswa yang tersedia dan tips belajar bahasa Inggris selama masih studi S1. Kemampuan Bahasa Inggris selalu menjadi 'tiket' untuk bisa mendapatkan beasiswa luar negeri, tetapi untuk mendapatkan keahlian tersebut tidak mudah karena harus dibangun bertahun-tahun lamanya.

Pencari beasiswa pada awalnya seperti masuk ke dalam hutan tanpa perencanaan. Banyak yang tidak mengetahui cara mencari informasi beasiswa, jenis beasiswa, tipe beasiswa populer, dan kiat mendapatkannya. Hal yang terpenting menurut peraih beasiswa umumnya (2014) adalah menentukan jenis beasiswa, mendapatkan informasi detil, mempersiapkan persyaratan, mulai mengisi formulir aplikasi, mengontak universitas, mengontak teman-teman baru yang pernah studi di universitas tersebut, mengirim formulir sambil berkejaran dengan tenggat waktu dan melupakan semuanya sampai ada kabar. 

Australia Development Scholarships adalah beasiswa lain yang kudapatkan pada tahun 2006 untuk studi S3. Sebenarnya aku telah lama berniat menjadi salah satu penerima beasiswa ADS, apalagi setelah bertemu teman-teman penerima beasiswa ADS di IALF Denpasar (1999) yang memiliki kualifikasi dan kemampuan bahasa Inggris di atas rata-rata. Selain itu ada beberapa alasan mengapa aku memilih studi di Australia dan beasiswa ADS. Pertama, beasiswa ADS sangat populer karena memberikan tunjangan penuh, kursus persiapan bahasa Inggris dan studi di Australia, dan memiliki manajemen beasiswa yang bagus. Kedua, riset terkini yang ditawarkan oleh universitas dengan fasilitas lengkap. Ketiga, negara multikultural, multi budaya, tidak jauh dari Indonesia dengan iklim Mediterania, sub tropis, dan tropis dengan gaya hidup, flora dan fauna unik (2014). Keempat, kesempatan untuk melakukan perjalanan heroik guna menemukan jati diri dan mengembangkan kepribadian. Kelima, jalan-jalan dan tinggal sementara di bagian Selatan bumi pasti sangat menyenangkan!

Oh, tentu saja ada banyak masalah saat studi (2015). Tetapi hal tersebut pasti bisa diatasi dengan percaya bahwa semua hal itu baik, telah ditentukan, dan berasal dari Allah SWT. Pada masa sulit kita harus tetap mencari jalan keluar dan tidak takut pada kesulitan yang menghadang di depan. Ada baiknya tetap berusaha dan berjuang tanpa kenal lelah agar semua kesulitan dapat diatasi. Kegigihan, nyali, dan keyakinan kuat bahwa Allah SWT akan memberi jalan keluar dapat mengurangi rasa letih dan putus asa selama proses tersebut.

Pada tahap berikutnya dalam sesi berbagi info studi di luar negeri (2016), aku lebih tertarik membahas prinsip dasar dan strategi untuk mendapatkan sebuah beasiswa, termasuk mengisi formulir dengan teliti! Pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang paling menentukan dalam keberhasilan beasiswa selalu terkait relevansi bidang studi tujuan dengan kompetensi dasar kita, kemudian relevansi bidang studi dengan fokus beasiswa, dan dampak studi lanjut bagi diri dan karir individu maupun masyarakat di Indonesia. 

 

Anyway, untuk bisa sukses mendapatkan beasiswa luar negeri maka perlu serangkaian langkah yang membutuhkan kerja keras tidak mengenal lelah dalam waktu tertentu. Keberhasilan mendapatkan beasiswa adalah satu hal, sedangkan berhasil menjalankannya saat studi lanjut adalah masalah berbeda. Untuk tahap ini, fokus dulu pada mendapatkan beasiswa, lalu pikirkan langkah selanjutnya untuk studi dengan sukses di luar negeri. 

Selamat berusaha, dan jangan lupa berbagi informasi cara mendapatkannya di kemudian hari.

Pekanbaru,

Creating Content and Sharing Insight

Sedikit review tahun-tahun berjalan sejak kembali dari sekolah di Australia,

tahun 2012: tahun administration (merapikan arsip, mengumpulkan data, menyusun database)

tahun 2013: tahun traveling (mengunjungi hubby, keluarga dan teman di luar negeri)

tahun 2014: tahun internationalization and networking (mengerjakan project internasionalisasi dan bertemu banyak teman maupun orang-orang penting dari empat benua)

tahun 2015: tahun creating content and sharing insight (mengumpulkan ide dan berbagi pandangan di mana-mana)

tahun 2016: barangkali akan jadi tahun yang... (tergantung aktivitas tahun ini, barangkali temanya 'community service')

Awal tahun baru ini aku belajar terminologi baru 'creating content dan sharing insight', meskipun tahun 2015 lalu sudah kulakukan sambil berlari di berbagai tempat. Pada tahun 2015, kesempatan untuk berbagi ilmu tidak hanya di bidang penelitian melalui konferensi, tetapi juga bidang green building materials, penulisan ilmiah, kreativitas mahasiswa, motivasi, kepemimpinan di era MEA, gender equality, studi S3 di Australia, dan kuliah umum mengenai material konstruksi di tanah gambut sewaktu mengunjungi University of Yamaguchi, Jepang.

Term tersebut, creating content and sharing insight (mengumpulkan ide dan berbagi pandangan), seperti yang ditulis oleh Dorie Clark di hbr.org dalam post 'How Can I Ensure I'm More Valuable at the End of the Year than I was at the Beginning', menjadi bagian dari Professional Development (Pengembangan Profesional) dalam hidup dan karir seseorang. Maksudnya, 'creating content' adalah menuliskan ide/ilmu untuk mengkristalisasi pengetahuan dalam bentuk yang lebih mudah dipahami dan mengikat orang lain, sedangkan 'sharing insight' berarti membentuk personal brand (imej pribadi) dengan cara berbagi ilmu dengan publik/komunitas. Keuntungan yang diperoleh adalah pemahaman mendalam tentang bidang keahlian dan mendapatkan pengakuan publik mengenai keahlian kita. 

Agar bisa 'creating content dan sharing insight' dengan baik, tentulah kita perlu memperluas ilmu dan wawasan mengenai sebuah topik. Pengalaman presentasi dan belajar internasionalisasi selama ini di KUI, di Jerman, presentasi materi untuk mahasiswa di kampus maupun presentasi penelitian di konferensi internasional telah membantu dengan cepat untuk menyusun content yang tepat untuk setiap event. Selain itu, berbagi pandangan berdasarkan pengalaman pribadi biasanya lebih enak diikuti dan membekas di dalam hati audiens. 

Untuk memulai tahun 2016, Bismillahirrahmanirrahim, telah ada undangan berbagi ilmu mengenai beasiswa luar negeri dan sekolah di luar negeri oleh komunitas anak muda lokal yang mencari beasiswa. Mudah-mudahan tema tahun ini, community service bisa dijalankan dengan baik. Semangat.

Pekanbaru, 
beautiful 2016 is waiting

Travel Update Year 2015

The year 2015 was a nice and busy year, and also a time for great change of my priorities and direction!

Jakarta (January 2015)
The trip was short to German Embassy to apply for a Schengen Visa. It would be my second trip to Germany in February-March shortly.

Berlin (February 2015)
I managed to have fun too, such as to see the famous Berlin Zoo, Postdamer Platz, Berlin Wall and enjoyed a cheap falafel in the heart of Berlin. Instead of having fun in Berlin and learn the tragic history, we had two days class at Berlin Institute of Professional Studies with an amazing female professor.

Oldenburg (February 2015)
I visited a Botanical Garden to see the early bloomers snowdrop and crocus, had fun with classmates at University of Oldenburg, joined more games and participated in more lively discussions, and breathed the nice air of early spring all over the city.

Amsterdam (March 2015)
I went to Zaansche Schah, Van Gogh Museum, Canal Cruise, Anne Frank House, and took a stroll at the city center and Amsterdam Central Station. A week after that, I went to de Hortus Botanical Garden with my former student because Elizabeth Gilberth's book, The Signature of All Things.

Abu Dhabi (April 2015)
Abu Dhabi and Dubai are more glamorous and lavish than places I saw in Europe. Things are glittering, massive and inviting. We enjoyed food galore from authentic Indian, Syrian, Pakistanis and Arabic. Though Abu Dhabi is a little bit laid back than Dubai, we enjoyed our sister bonding moment through learning about sustainable construction at the eco city: Masdar City.

Dubai (April 2015)
We went to Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the meantime, Dubai Museum to learn its interesting history about native people of Dubai. Took the public mass rapid transportation around the city and experienced the advancement of technology surround the country. Then we ended up at the Miracle Garden, a most colorful and awesome flower garden in any desert. Such a splendid time to take pictures in those colorful garden.

Jakarta (May, June, July 2015)
I attended a Professional Development Activity in Jakarta, working a grant proposal. It was a great even to meet other Australia Awards alumni, and learned about how to write down a winning proposal. Another visit was to attend a SAME interview in Jakarta, which didn't turn well for the time being.

Padang, Bukittinggi (August 2015)
It was our wish to do a road trip in West Sumatra when hubby had finished his PhD thesis. I was so glad to have this #4th road trip again. We could chat, take a turn of driving, taste local food, take photos of nice views, hike in some places and stroll around the local markets.

Jakarta (October 2015)
It was a kind of agony to leave my home town without dearest ones who still need to face haze. People have tried to bear the situation as much as they can. So, I had to reroute to Padang to board on the plane to Jakarta. I would leave home for 3 weeks non-stop from 21st of October-15 November 2015. First, I went to Jakarta  to attend Alumni Discussion with consultant from the Australian Embassy and a sharing session at IALF Jakarta with the new PhD students. I reflected myself to be in the same shoes about 9 years ago when I was eager to know how to do a PhD and what we need to prepare in order to finish on time.

Surabaya (October 2015)
I came to Surabaya for a conference about geopolymer and met my colleagues from ITS and UKP again and got a chance to be one of a chairperson in a symposium. It will be my next thing to master, on how to be an entertaining in a scientific and formal event! The symposium was great, and I won a silver medal for my paper.

Sepang (October 2015)
My first stop was Sepang, near Kuala Lumpur on my way to Japan. I went to Japan for extending the university and faculty international collaboration with Miyazaki, Saga and Yamaguchi universities. KLIA2 is impressive, but very huge indeed.

Yokohama, Miyazaki, Fukuoka, Saga, Yamaguchi, Hiroshima, Tokyo (October-November 2015)
Japan is like another home for me now. It was my second visit to enhance our international collaboration with University of Miyazaki, Saga University and University of Yamaguchi. We traveled across Japan to visit those universities and several places such as Yokohama, Fukuoka, Hiroshima and Tokyo on our way back from Japan. Autumn was nearly there, and I fell in love with momiji (autumn leaves).

Jakarta (November 2015)
Gender inequality is definitely an issue for female staff at the university. How could we give an understanding to our stakeholders that gender equality will be beneficial for the development of university in the future. I attend 5 days seminar that full of fun and loving female colleagues in Jakarta to learn about an importance of creating gender friendly environment for male-female staff at the university to ensure them to work together in harmony.

Pekanbaru,

The art of networking

 

One of women's weaknesses in finding more opportunities to succeed is networking skills. 
(Britta Thege, DAAD Alumni Seminar, UKI, Jakarta 2014)

Some people could feel uncomfortable meeting new people for the first time. Although they need to extend their network with a list of target contacts in mind, lacking getting-to-know-you skills could hinder them from succeeding in new situations. To have a smooth transition in every new situation, there are three things that we need to keep in mind:
*introducing ourselves
*remembering names
*asking questions

I met a woman who was elegant, has a good position in a company and a high profile individual in her society. She told me that it was difficult for her to start a conversation with strangers, so she preferred other people to take the initiative to talk to her. She doesn't know what to say, do, or ask to start any communication. I couldn't believe that since she is one of the friendliest individuals I've ever met. However, there is a typical discomfort for some people when approaching others because she is afraid to bother people and then make a mistake or get rejected. 

On one hand, I have tried to break such a barrier for many years now. I'm known as a quiet student who hesitates to speak in public. But, as a lecturer who always needs to be in front of the class most of the time, I learned to compromise my feelings and start to make myself involved in any situation. Besides, having so many friends wherever I go could lessen my loneliness when travelling alone. I am always in a situation where I am the only woman who's wearing a headscarf, a young South East Asian female, a Muslim and an engineer. The only way to feel comfortable in an awkward situation is to chat with someone beside me about something general. Then suddenly, I am among the crowd without my uncomfortable feelings. I keep practising this skill, which significantly helps me in my career. The idea is to get as many acquaintances as possible to reduce the peaking barrier between me and the new situation.

So, these are tips on how to approach people in a new formal situation:
a) Introduce yourself. 
In Japan, after shaking hands, people prefer to exchange their business cards, check the cards, learn to tell each other's names, and bow to each other. I prefer to introduce myself and my affiliation, then ask a question about something informal. This is where I am trying to find common ground with the person.

b) Remember their names. 
This is the most difficult part of the introduction. We don't do this deliberately, but sometimes, we keep forgetting other people's names. I usually don't forget older people's names, but I normally can't recall younger ones. This is because I used to associate seniors with their work and position, so it is easier for me to remember them. Just pronounce their name again so our brain can record the name.

c) Ask short but important questions or state something general to open the conversation. 
It is quite boring to tell people about yourself, your address and your occupation a thousand times, but asking a question about how you like the city, which part of this city is the most interesting, or what you recommend to see or visit to the town is quite challenging. However, some people don't mind sharing their views about the subject; you just carry away with the conversation. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Don't feel bad, just start the same process to other people who seems more open and welcome to us. I don't like to be stuck with an old grumpy professor who doesn't want to discuss his knowledge with me. I am as free as other people to leave him to speak to the other guests and learn something as much as I can from others. 

d) Close the loop by saying thank you. 
After having a pleasant conversation and you get the business card, it's time to say thank you and meet you again. The real test will come later, when the person recognizes you again when you meet them, or you are the one who forgets them. I don't mind if people don't remember me at the second meeting. I'm usually the one who will approach them and try to remind them about me. Besides, I don't mind if they forget or become indifferent for reasons I don't know since I am always free to approach new people and expand my network rather than being stuck in one person all the time. 

This networking skill is invaluable if we want to stay active and find many opportunities to meet new people. Who knows who next to you will be your reviewer, next supervisor or colleague, or the person who will offer you his book or resources you've been searching for many years. Who knows, this lady who looks totally different from you is your future career mentor. Who knows, a person who is so quiet could also be inspiring when he/she tells you about his/her research topic and current activities. You will get something valuable, but you need to be proactive, practical, and passionate about other people. That is the beauty of networking, and that's why this art needs to be mastered with good practice and confidence.  

  Pekanbaru,