The event was held in New Delhi between 18-22 December 2012, and during the Symposium Haikal met the President of Indonesia, the Minister of Education and Culture and many prominent guest speakers. Haikal's trip was funded by Pendle College and the LUMS International Office whose director, Dr Radka Newton said: “LUMS is very proud of having students like Haikal who represent our University and provide inspiration for the next generations of students. Indonesia is a growing economy and we hope to see more Indonesian students at Lancaster in the near future.”

‌At the Symposium Haikal took part in the Society and Culture commission, which concluded its discussions by recommending the development of the Indonesia Culture House in many countries around the world, including the UK. The commission also decided to create a scholarship fund, the OISAA Scholarship, which will help underprivileged students in Indonesia to achieve higher education. The commission will also produce a real-life, inspirational book, ‘Semut Merah 75’, which will be published at the end of the first semester of 2013.

Haikal met the President of Indonesia, Dr H. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in New Delhi during the formal breakfast meeting with the delegation of Indonesia for ASEAN – India Commemorative Summit. During the occasion, President Yudhoyono said he regarded the Indonesian students who attended ISWS as the future leaders of Indonesia. He also reminded all Indonesian students abroad to keep contributing to their motherland.

Another notable speaker was a Lancaster University graduate, Aquarini Priyatna Prabasmoro (Feminist Culture Theory and Practice, 2001). During the informal discussion after the talk, she told Haikal that she was still able to recall the days when she was still studying in Lancaster, and would love to visit Lancaster again one day. She gave a talk about the traditional ‘local wisdom’ in Indonesia that prevents Indonesian women from getting a higher education.

Haikal concluded: “I really hope that the results of the symposium will lead to better development in Indonesia. The knowledge gained during the symposium will be used to improve the quality of Indonesian students in the UK through the Indonesian Students Association in the UK that I am now leading.”