Thursina IIBS Hosts Indonesia’s Former Trade Minister in an Inspiring Visit
Thursina International Islamic Boarding School (IIBS) was recently graced by the visit of a distinguished guest: Muhammad Lutfi, Indonesia’s Trade Minister from 2020-2022. This former ambassador of Indonesia to USA and Japan joined the Thursina Inspiring Figures sharing forum, held at the Sorbonne Meeting Room on the school’s male campus.
During this visit, Mr. Lutfi was accompanied by Mr. Fahs Pahdepie, a communication expert and education observer who also happened to be the parent of a Thursina IIBS student.
The forum began with a welcome address from the Chairman of Thursina IIBS, Ustadz Dr. Muhammad Ali Wahyudi. This was followed by a brief presentation on the achievements and development of Thursina IIBS by the CEO, Ustadz Nur Abidin, M.Ed.
During the discussion session, Mr. Lutfi showed great appreciation for Thursina’s rapid growth and development, as well as the achievements of students and teachers, particularly on the international stage.
“When I first stepped foot on the Thursina campus, I saw a modern Islamic civilization, comparable to my university back in the United States. I’m so proud of how far Thursina has come,” said Mr. Lutfi.
In his speech, Mr. Lutfi also emphasized the importance of collaboration in good organization management, including education, in this millennial era.
In the context of education, he underlined how crucial it is for students to develop adequate soft skills alongside their academic endeavours.
These soft skills can be developed through a variety of extracurricular programs such as sports, clubs, and community, Mr. Lutfi explained.
“At Ivy League universities like Harvard, Cornell, and Yale, involvement in sports and clubs is encouraged as a way to develop the soft skills that are essential in life and the workplace. When conducting recruitments, world-class companies (those in Fortune 500), often would want to talk about what kind of sports or clubs that you’re involved in after inquiring about your academic achievements. Thursina, as a holistic boarding school institution, must facilitate these soft-skills development activities,” he stressed.
Through this visit, Mr. Lutfi also expressed his good intentions in supporting the Thursina Awards and scholarship programs, particularly for students who excelled in sports and other extracurricular clubs.
The discussion also touched on important issues such as smart and green education technology, partnership potentials, and studies abroad opportunities.
Hopefully, Mr. Lutfi's visit can provide insights and inspiration for the management and faculty of Thursina IIBS in striving for a better educational service and a deeper commitment to giving their best effort to their students. Amiin.