IAIN Manado, 9th June 2024 – Students of Tadris Bahasa Inggris (TBI) at IAIN Manado gathered in an insightful leadership event organized by the TBI Student Association (HMPS TBI) on the theme “Leadership Between Peers: Turning Friendship into a Valuable Resource and Handling Responsibility in Leadership.” The event, which took place on campus, aimed to explore how strong friendships can become the foundation of effective leadership, and how students can manage responsibility in leadership roles.

The seminar featured two distinguished speakers, Nofika Sari Gobel, S.Pd and Inggrid Datunsolang, S.Pd, both of whom are experienced leaders of HMPS and practitioners in the field of leadership. Nofika Sari Gobel, an expert in education and leadership development, shared her knowledge on how peer relationships can evolve into powerful leadership dynamics. According to her, effective leadership doesn’t just stem from authority, but from mutual respect and understanding among peers. “Friendship can be a strong foundation for trust and cooperation, which are essential components of good leadership,” she explained.

Inggrid Datunsolang, S.Pd, a seasoned educator also former leader of HMPS, also shared her insights on the importance of responsibility in leadership. She emphasized that handling responsibility in leadership involves not only managing tasks but also fostering a sense of accountability and integrity among team members. “Leadership is about taking responsibility for others, guiding them to achieve common goals while respecting their individual strengths,” Datunsolang stated during the seminar.

The participants, mainly students from the TBI department, engaged in lively discussions and interactive sessions that allowed them to reflect on their own leadership experiences and aspirations. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for students to connect theory with practice, as they explored real-world examples of leadership among peers.

HMPS TBI IAIN Manado has been consistently committed to hosting events that enhance the leadership skills of its members, and this seminar was no exception. The event concluded with a Q&A session where students posed questions to the speakers, delving deeper into how to implement effective leadership strategies in their academic and social lives.

Through this event, students left with a deeper understanding of how friendships can shape leadership qualities and the importance of responsibility in any leadership role. The event undoubtedly reinforced the values of collaboration, responsibility, and ethical leadership among future educators at IAIN Manado. FS