The Falak Science Observatory of Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (OIF UMSU) and the Lajnah Falak of Universiti Malaya (UM), Malaysia, collaborated to hold an international discussion through an online Live Astronomy Q&A on Instagram on Saturday (December 13).
The Live Astronomy Q&A is a monthly program organized by OIF UMSU. This 34th episode, themed “Student Activities in Falak Studies at UMSU and Universiti Malaya”, was a follow-up to the recent academic visit by Universiti Malaya to UMSU.
Head of OIF UMSU, Dr. Arwin Juli Rakhmadi Butar-Butar, M.A., expressed hope that the program would continue as a means of popularizing astronomy through simple and engaging topics. “We hope this initiative will further strengthen synergy among falak scholars and encourage the internationalization of OIF and UMSU in the future,” he said.
The discussion session was moderated by Rihan Yuhyi, a Falak Studies student at UMSU, and Muhammad Asyraf bin Mohd Shokri from Universiti Malaya. They exchanged perspectives on the development of falak studies, academic culture, and student activities at their respective universities. The discussion was highly interactive, with speakers responding to questions submitted live by the audience through the Instagram comment section.
In his presentation, Rihan Yuhyi highlighted UMSU’s competitive strengths, particularly the role of OIF as a center of excellence in falak studies.
“OIF UMSU functions not only as a laboratory, but also as a research center and educational tourism destination, equipped with robotic telescopes and a planetarium, and is open to international collaboration,” he explained.
He also emphasized UMSU students’ community engagement programs.
“UMSU Falak Studies students are actively involved in community outreach, such as calibrating the qibla direction and educating the public about astronomical phenomena like eclipses. This shows that falak studies have a real social impact,” he added.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Asyraf bin Mohd Shokri presented the academic culture and student organization management at Universiti Malaya. “The Lajnah Falak of Universiti Malaya has a well-structured organization under the Academy of Islamic Studies, ensuring that student activities are well-directed and sustainable,” he noted.
He further explained that UM students are actively engaged in research and scholarly activities. “Our students regularly conduct classical text discussions (kitab turats) and astronomical observations on campus as part of strengthening falak research,” he said.
The one-hour Live Q&A received enthusiastic responses from Falak Studies students of UMSU and Universiti Malaya, as well as astronomy enthusiasts. A wide range of topics were discussed, including learning systems, public engagement activities, and career opportunities in the field of falak studies.
This activity represents a strategic step in enhancing UMSU’s global reputation. The discussion concluded with a friendly exchange of traditional rhymes (pantun) between speakers from Indonesia and Malaysia, reflecting shared cultural ties and a strong spirit of regional brotherhood.
