On Sunday (January 3rd), marking the start of the new year 2016, the Widyatama Foundation celebrated its 43rd anniversary. To commemorate this milestone, the foundation held a grand tabligh event, inviting renowned Da’i K.H. Abdullah Gymnastiar, who is also the CEO of Manajemen Qalbu (MQ). The event began with a small celebration held in the lobby of the Widyatama Foundation, opened with a speech by T. Ontowiryo A, S.E., MBA (Chairman of the Widyatama Foundation Management Board) as the host of the anniversary celebration. This was followed by a speech from Dr.H. Islahuzzaman, S.E., M.Si., Ak., CA (Rector of Widyatama University), who offered his congratulations to the Widyatama Foundation on its anniversary. The cutting of the tumpeng (cone-shaped rice dish) marked the start of the day’s ceremony.
Among the invited guests were several important colleagues of the Widyatama Foundation, including the Vice Rector of Mercu Buana University (UMB) and his staff, the Head of Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI) Bandung, the Chair of ABP-PTSI, the Chair of APTISI West Java (http://aptisi.org/), and officials from the Widyatama area (including the sub-district head, village head, etc.).
Held at the Universitas Widyatama Multipurpose Auditorium, the opening ceremony was enlivened by Abu Marlo, who also acted as the Master of Ceremony for the grand Tabligh event. After a speech from the Chair of the Widyatama Foundation Management Board, AA Gym, the famous ustad from Bandung, began his tausyiah (religious lecture). In his sermon, AA Gym explained that humans must avoid two diseases of the heart, and that teachers, as noble individuals, must have the spirit of leadership and be role models for their students. “The practice that will never end is imparting knowledge, and it is not only lecturers who impart knowledge. So, fastabikhul khairat, spread knowledge,” said AA Gym in his humorous style.
The maturation of the Widyatama Foundation as a higher education institution over the past 43 years has brought about many changes, including improvements in the quality of education, the provision of adequate learning and teaching facilities, and customer satisfaction. With this anniversary celebration, it is hoped that the Foundation and the Widyatama family will not only focus on the teaching and learning process. But also dedicate themselves to the implementation of social research, which can effectively help the survival of the wider community.
