Yogyakarta - Fifteen students of Communication Science Department of UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta represented Indonesia in de-Centralized Asian Transnational Challenges (d'CATCH) 21-27 January 2018  in Bangkok, Thailand. The event held at Chulalongkorn University is an annual event that is attended by 5 countries including Indonesia. This year marks the d'CATCH 15th  anniversary held annually.

The students joining the Indonesian team were M. Kevin Dovara, Nada Rizqi, Malida Zulfaniazahra, Rafika Riniptasari, Erni Irdewanti, Clarisza Isabel, Monica Naomi, Rio Har Pratama, Dina Setiani, Alifa Justisia, Awaludin Gilang, Jihan Anindita, Choirunnisa Nabila, and Laili Choirunnissa, Rizky Ananda Basuki. They were accompanied by lecturer of Communication Science Department, Senja Yustitia, M.Si

In addition to Indonesia being represented by the Communication Department of UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta, there were Communication University of China (China), University of Santo Tomas (Philiphina), Kanda University of International Studies (Japan) and Chulalongkorn University (Thailand) which this time be the host.

While in Bangkok, the students from five countries would make presentations and discussions related to videos they had previously produced. d'CATCH theme this time was 'NEXT' which was divided into 5 sub-themes namely Alternative, Media, Food, Lifestyle, and Relationship.

"There are 3 students who are divided into these themes. They have been working since a few months ago and are ready to discuss with other students in Bangkok, "said M. Edy Susilo, M.Si, Coordinator d'CATCH Indonesia in 2018. Furthermore, various students with the same theme  performed a joint production in Bangkok to connect each video in the same storyline.

There were many interesting stories for the video of the Indonesian team. For example, in the Food theme video, the students represented by Awaludin, Jihan and Nabila told about coffee in the homeland which is now not only as a culinary but also as an industrial commodity. Other videos, for example on the Alternative, Dovara, Dina and Laili themes raised the phenomenon of alternative musicians in Indonesia that became a new force in the music world. Students' concerns about copyright infringement also tried to be raised on Media theme videos by Malida, Nada and Rio.

Interestingly, the students did not only focus on serious discussions, but also  tried to show the real problems among the younger generation. It was seen in the video of Relationship theme that highlighted the online dating applications. Media used to find this life partner according to Monica, Rizky and Radika often ended up with sadness, instead of happiness. Lifestyle theme video also saw the latest condition of young people that the number of people pursued the hobby of jogging. In this video, Alifa, Clariza and Erni questioned whether the people did it for health or just as an existence.

The Chairman of Communication Science Department of UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta, Dr. Subhan Afifi expressed his appreciation to the students who had worked hard and prepared the video to be presented.

"Discussion and cross-cultural communication between students is the important breath of d'CATCH. The students not only make videos but also seek to understand and cooperate. Language barriers as well as different cultures become part of the communication hurdles that must be solved, " he explained.

That is why, the Department of Communication Studies is committed to always send its representatives because of the very high usage of d'CATCH for the students. According to him, an international experience should be an important thing for every student to have increasing insight and confidence.