Faculty of Agriculture Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) held an orientation event for students participating in the ASEAN International Mobility for Students (AIMS) program on Thursday, 8 August 2024. The event was attended by eight awardees from various countries, including the Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, and Japan. The purpose of the event was to introduce the campus and Indonesian culture. The eight AIMS students include Madelene Irene Arcilla (Philippines – UPLB), Bouakeo Phanthanouvong (Vietnam – TUAF), Jisoo Park (South Korea – GNU), Jinwon Gang (South Korea – GNU), Yuwa Takagi (Japan – Ibaraki Univ), Koko Nomura (Japan – Ibaraki Univ), Onose Takuma (Japan – TUAT), and Chiharu Soejima (Japan – TUAT).
The event began with a welcome speech by Nur Akbar Arofatullah, S.P., M.Biotech., Ph.D., a lecturer in Agricultural Microbiology Department and the AIMS program coordinator at the Faculty of Agriculture. In his speech, Dr. Akbar highlighted the importance of the program in strengthening educational cooperation among ASEAN countries and providing international experiences for students.
During the orientation, the students were taught several basic phrases in Indonesian and Javanese, such as “Sugeng ndalu” (Good evening), “Permisi” (Excuse me), and “Matur suwun” (Thank you). This language lesson aimed to help them communicate more effectively during their time on campus. The language session was met with enthusiasm, as the participants eagerly practiced the new phrases.
In addition to language introduction, the scholarship recipients were also given insights into Indonesian culture, with a focus on Yogyakarta’s cultural heritage. They were introduced to various aspects of Yogyakarta’s culture, including batik art and local cuisine.
As part of the academic preparation, the awardees received an academic guide outlining the courses available at UGM’s Faculty of Agriculture. They were briefed on the curriculum, faculty members, and the courses they could take during the program. This guidance was intended to help them select courses that align with their interests and fields of study.
The successful execution of this orientation is expected to enable AIMS students to make the most of their opportunity to learn, interact, and build strong connections with students at Faculty of Agriculture UGM in this one semester program. The program aims not only to provide academic experiences but also to enrich their perspectives on cultural diversity in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia.
The AIMS student orientation at UGM’s Faculty of Agriculture reflects the commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 4: Quality Education and SDG 17: Partnerships to Achieve the Goals.
Reporter: Alkhansa Khairunnisa
Editor: Desi Utami