On 11 September 2024, the Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held a farewell event for Rina Shirahata and Haruka Ishiguro, students from Yamagata University, who had taught the Japanese language class “Nihongo no Nakama” for a week. The event took place at the AGLC Building of the Faculty of Agriculture and was attended by students from various faculties at UGM who had participated in the class. Rina Shirahata is a student from the Art Major, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, while Haruka Ishiguro is from the Mass Media Communication Major, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Yamagata University, Japan.
The event began with a warm welcome from Prof. Subejo, S.P., M.Sc., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, and Cooperation at the Faculty of Agriculture, who expressed his gratitude to the Japanese students for their dedication in teaching the Japanese language and culture.
“We greatly appreciate Haruka and Rina for their contributions and participation in teaching Japanese language and culture, not only to students of the Faculty of Agriculture but also to other faculties at UGM. This activity can be an important asset for our students who want to prepare for future studies in Japan,” said Prof. Subejo.
After the welcome remarks, the event continued with messages and reflections from Rina and Haruka. They expressed their heartfelt gratitude and appreciation for the enthusiasm of the participants in the Japanese language class.
“I really enjoyed this class, and I will never forget the moments and memories I had while being here,” said Haruka.
The emotional atmosphere deepened as student representatives shared their thoughts and reflections on their experiences during the Japanese language class. The event concluded with a group photo and an exchange of mementos between UGM students and the Japanese students. The Japanese Language Class taught by Haruka and Rina was attended by more than 380 UGM students from various faculties.
This farewell event was not only a moment to say goodbye but also to celebrate the friendship and international collaboration that had been fostered throughout the exchange program.
This activity also supports UGM’s efforts in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 1: No Poverty, SDG 2: Zero Hunger, SDG 3: Good health and well-being, SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
Author: Agrit Kirana Bunda
Editor: Desi Utami
Documentation: Faperta Media