UMKT’s Himatika Hosts International Seminar on Tech Development and the Global Digital Ecosystem

umkt.ac.id, Samarinda — The Informatics Engineering Students Association (Himatika) of Universitas Muhammadiyah Kalimantan Timur (UMKT) successfully hosted an international seminar on May 24, 2026. Titled “The Future of Technological Advancement and the Rise of a Global Digital Ecosystem,” the event took place at the Main Hall in Building E, aiming to sharpen students' insights into rapid global tech developments.

The seminar brought together a distinguished audience, including the university’s Vice Rector, the Vice Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology (FST), the Head of the Informatics Engineering Study Program alongside department members, a representative from the Office of Cooperation and International Affairs (OCIA), and students from various universities across Samarinda.

The keynote session featured Mazhar Durrani, a prominent tech figure who serves as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of two U.S.-based IT companies: Parallaxnet and Virtalus.

Abdul Halim, Vice Rector for Academic, Quality Assurance, Student, and Alumni Affairs, highly appreciated the student-led initiative. He noted that international exposure is a core pillar of UMKT's educational approach.

“UMKT does not merely limit your learning to classroom-bound knowledge. We are fully committed to providing you with vast international exposure, both academically and non-academically. I hope our students seize these opportunities to build a solid foundation for their future careers,” Halim remarked before officially opening the seminar.

Sigiet Haryo Pranoto, Vice Dean for Academic, Student, and Cooperation Affairs of FST, echoed this sentiment. He emphasized that global seminars play a critical role in equipping students with the highly competitive skills demanded by today's job market.

According to Abdul Rahim, Head of the Informatics Engineering Study Program, this seminar served as the main anchor for “Technofest V 3.26,” an annual event organized by Himatika. Himatika also organized a hackathon event and “IoT Champion” - a tournament that showcases innovations in the Internet of Things.

The chairperson of Himatika, M. Adhitya Alfian Rahmatulloh, added that the seminar was a platform for knowledge sharing about latest technology updates.

During his presentation, Mazhar Durrani lauded UMKT's proactive efforts in bringing international landscapes directly to the campus. Addressing the aspiring IT professionals in the room, he urged them to look beyond traditional academic metrics.

“In the fast-evolving IT world, you cannot rely solely on academic honors. True value lies in actively developing your skills through hands-on experience, real-world projects, and recognized professional certifications,” Durrani advised.

The successful conclusion of the seminar reasserts UMKT’s unwavering commitment to expanding its international network while continuously providing world-class learning platforms for its students.

Author & Translator: M. Rafly Raihandy
Editor: Raisha Azzahro
Foto: Tio Andika