PAP, Also A Merry Go Round!

"Hansteins Wellenflug", a carrousel in "Mai Dome" of Osnabrueck, Germany.

Carrousel, merry go round, "draaimolen" (Dutch), karussell (German), wellenflug (German). That is life, going up and down. A carrousel in the town of Osnabrueck.

Merry go round. That is life, like a merry go round. Cest la vie. Because of that, then we need to think of life, and the whole parts of it, as well. We need to plan our daily life. We need to contemplate, evaluate, then make continuous improvement or kaizen (a Japanese term for continuous improvement introduced by Toyota) in everyday life.

Today is, actually, the deadline of the PAP (personal action plan). So many lessons learned to be thought, and then implemented in our daily academic life. Hope the best one for you all. Ganbatte kudasai (That is the Japanese people say when we have to spirit others)!

Werner von Siemens

The group that visited TU Berlin couldn't help but pose in front of the statue of Siemens. Everyone is aware of the Siemens brand.

"From a humble workshop to a global enterprise, Siemens was founded in Berlin by Werner von Siemens in 1847. As an extraordinary inventor, engineer and entrepreneur, Werner von Siemens made the world's first pointer telegraph and electric dynamo, inventions that helped put the spin in the industrial revolution. He was the man behind one of the most fascinating success stories of all time - by turning a humble little workshop into one of the world's largest enterprises.

As Werner had envisioned, the company he started grew from strength to strength in every field of electrical engineering. From constructing the world's first electric railway to laying the first telegraph line linking Britain and India, Siemens was responsible for building much of the modern world's infrastructure." (from a Siemens website)

Another Humboldtian just signed up

Welcome Duu Sheng and thank you for joining the blog. Must have had a good time visiting your research laboratory after the IDC! Always mistook Duu Sheng for Sheng Duu during our ten day sojourn in Germany. Sorry about that.

Please share with us your experiences as a DAAD alumni and a Humboldtian.

A photo taken during a coffee break

"If a picture paints a thousand words, then why can't I paint you" so goes the song "If" by the group called Bread. Surely, the warm smiles of the participants, facilitators, and resource persons paint a thousand nice words about the IDC!

Welcome aboard Nirath

There was only one participant from Laos but he made an impact at the IDC. He's a mathematician by training but ended up doing German for his Ph.D. Interesting combination of specialisation.

Welcome Nirath and we wait for many contributions from you.

Sawatdee khrap Niwat

Our Thai friend Niwat has joined us. yin dee thee dai ruu jak khrap (for the non-Thai speakers, it means "pleased to meet you," I think). We are having the durian season here south of Thailand! Most of the durians are from Thailand. Give us your ever smiling and charming spirit Niwat.

The King of Fruits - Taste of Heaven and Smell of Hell

Vossensteyn and His Moonlighting in Osnabrueck

Picture of Hans Vossensteyn and Christian Berthold at the end of the session "Financial Management at Twente University, the Netherlands"

Hello Everybody,

The picture posted by Pak Intan is an interesting one, very nice. I like the composition very much! This is the example when someone is doing moonlighting (See the picture of Hans and Christian). So, be careful, like what Pak Intan wrote about. Smile! And: Banzai!

Ah ha, Intan has signed up. Welcome!

One of our experts, Intan, has signed up. Welcome aboard.
I guess he has just returned home from his belated honeymoon!

Be careful with him because he is a master Black Belt Karate kid!

We are waiting for Supra, Ilah, Aida, and Dahrul to say something.
Where are you guys!

Moonlighting and academia

Moonlighting was a hot buzz word in Osnabrueck! For academic leaders and academicians, moonlighting is very unethical and unprofessional and the practice should never be tolerated. Although the financial return is very rewarding, deans and heads should keep their minds focussed on the needs of the faculty and university. Unless of course, when we take up external jobs, we do it according to the policies and procedures of the institution.

Anyway, there is one place where moonlighting is definitely allowed and that is in Berlin! One can step into the Moonlight restaurant and have a good feast. Enjoy!



The Moonlight place on the way to Dietrich BonHoeffer Hotel

Truth is Dynamic

Seize the 10th of May, 2008! Stopover at VW Autostadt Wolfsburg.

On the way from the "City of Peace" to Berlin, in a rest area.

Time flies, so fast (Although sometimes it flies so slowly). It is time for us to start the academic life in our own institutions, and to contribute much more. Some years ago I read a book, which gave me understanding that:

Truth is dynamic and is developed through the dynamic process of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis. Moreover, beyond the recognition of one`s self opinion, difference with others serve catalyst to reach a higher level of understanding.

I hope I can introduce the above understanding in my real academic life (and in the whole life as well), in which true learners will be born in our academic societies.

Have a nice day ahead. And I upload pictures for you all. Alle beste!

A beautiful poem for everyone

Hello everyone! Ika has shared a nice poem by D. Bonhoeffer.Let me also share with you the beautiful poem "Desiderata" (meaning "desired things") by Max Ehrmann.

Desiderata

by Max Ehrmann (1927)

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer House

We have spent our course in Dietrich Bonhoeffer House during The IDC of Berlin Section. Who is Dietrich Bonhoeffer actually? He was a philosopher, an idealist, a hero who was against Hitler and died by Gestapo in 1945. I found one of his poems written on his famous book "Letters and Papers From Prison": Who am I?.

WHO AM I?
Who am I? They often tell me
I would step from my cell's confinement
calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
like a squire from his country-house.

Who am I? They often tell me
I would talk to my warders
freely and friendly and clearly,
as though it were mine to command.

Who am I? They also tell me
I would bear the days of misfortune
equably, smilingly, proudly,
like one accustomed to win.

Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I know of myself,
restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
struggling for breath, as though hands were compressing my throat,
yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds, thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,
trembling with anger at despotisms and petty humiliation, tossing in expectation of great events,
powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?

Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today, and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
and before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?

Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, thou knowest, 0 God, I am thine.

Welcome Victor and Ika

Let us welcome Victor and Ika to the blog. Authors are slowly trickling in as most participants are on their way home or other destinations. We hope all participants would join and contribute articles and thoughts on any subject matter i suppose.

I'm sure there were some names left out in the call for authors as i took the liberty of using the name cards i got from the participants. Please inform your friends to mail me so that i can invite everyone. It is not on purpose that your are left out. I just didn't have your biz cards.

The site is just to keep us together.

Dreams

A late night at Brandenburger Tor, Berlin. Wir fahren nach Berlin.

The serenade of Alexander Rupp, at Dietrich Bonhoeffer Memorial,

Berlin, one day in May 2008.

When I was a child my mother always told me, "My dear, It is important to have specific dreams." Then some years ago I found that Japanese people believe: Kokoro kara negaeba, hontouni naru, which means when you wish by your heart, dreams will come into reality. Then these days, The Osnabrueck-Berlin IDC, gave me understanding that we need to have dreams and realize what we dream of into specific actions, by which we can contribute more to our society.

Thank you for everybody in the IDC, who gave me lessons learned. Special thanks for Alexander Rupp who worked very hard for the success of the IDC. I send you your picture, Alex, and a night picture of Berlin taken on May 12, 2008.

Welcome onboard Sanchai

Sanchai made it to be the first to come onboard. Hope he can contribute to the blog extensively with all his jokes and wits.

The Closing Ceremony

No tears flowed, not yet. The occasion was exhilarating when the names of each participant were read out. Unknown faces 10 days ago who came forward to receive their certificate of completion were applauded.

The first to receive the certificate was Ika Dewi Ana, fondly known as Ika, a petite dentist from Universitas Gadjah Mada who works on nano materials. The Humboldtian Thai kept us in stitches with his candid humour. The Pillow Man, looked cool throughout the course. Then there was the Seronok Man, ok in one country, but not the other. Others that received the certificates were Einstein, How Much Lady, Tongkat Ali Man, Cili Padi (small but loud), Perdido, Barbie Doll, Ojek Lady, Dangdut Girl, One Name Man, and The Vietnamese Duke.

What are your impression of the occasion?

Seems to be the "official" IDC2008 foto

Final day but not the last

Today is the final day of the course. Surely everyone was looking forward to this day so as to return home to their loved ones. It has been two long weeks (almost). Ten working days seem to be a good duration, not too long, not too short.

New friends have been found and networking has been established by the end of the course. We see motivated and rejuvenated colleagues in the pursuit of excellence in higher education management.

"Cherish the moment, and the moment will never end..." Anon:2008

The Super Dean?

Deans of universities have the daunting task of applying their management soft-skills to academic decision. In doing so, the dean may step on many toes, if he or she is not careful. It is with this caution that deans must understand and apply management and leadership skills in ways that may not be the outcome of a generic Harvard management school program. Rather, the deans would have to play a three act show all at once.