STIKI Malang – The Philippines and India have become favorite destinations for student exchange programs. These two countries have their own appeal in attracting Indonesian students, including seven students from STIKI Malang who are studying there.
Five students participating in the student exchange program at Tarlac Agricultural University, Philippines, are Fadila Zeti Dewinta, Gerani Eka Nurizah, Vania Faustina Gunawan, Hashfi Andira Putra, and Nisayajna Zailila Hariyanto. Meanwhile, two other students are taking part in the exchange program at Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, India, namely Muhammad Akbar Ababil and Fauzan Ramelan.
These seven students are from various programs at STIKI Malang, including Informatics, Information Systems, and Visual Communication Design. They embarked on their journeys to the Philippines and India after STIKI Malang was selected to participate in the International Credit Transfer Program for the 2023 Academic Year.
This program is financially supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbud Ristek) to facilitate student mobility for one semester at Foreign Higher Education Institutions (PT-LN) partnered with STIKI Malang, corresponding to the desired competencies.
During approximately five months of student exchange at Tarlac Agricultural University, Philippines, the five STIKI Malang students learned a lot and gained new experiences, especially in their respective campus environments there. Their first impressions upon arriving were of the new environmental and cultural aspects.
Gerani, affectionately known as Rani, mentioned, “We are amazed by the experiences we have gained over the past 5 months. Through daily interactions with people from different cultural backgrounds, we as students have had the opportunity to enhance our cultural exchange skills in languages, especially English and Filipino.”
“This not only enriches our knowledge of Filipino culture, but also through interactions with students from different countries, we can broaden our insights into many areas of knowledge that we have not yet obtained while studying in Indonesia. This helps us develop a better understanding of academic and non-academic disciplines globally,” said Rani.
Additionally, the two STIKI students in India, Ababil and Fauzan, also shared their experiences during their 5-month student exchange at Sathyabama University, including language and cultural exchanges, as well as knowledge exchange in the field of technology.
“We have gained a lot of new experiences while studying in India, especially at Sathyabama University. Through daily interactions with students and the Indian community, we have had the opportunity to enhance our language skills in Indian languages. Additionally, we have also shared Indonesian language and culture with our new friends at Sathyabama University,” expressed Ababil.
“Not only language exchange, but through this program, we have been able to share and acquire in-depth knowledge in the field of technology, accessing facilities and resources that may not be available at campuses in Indonesia. We have learned about the latest approaches, technologies, and research being conducted in India in the field of technology.”
The International Credit Transfer student exchange program for the 2023 Academic Year not only enriches academic knowledge but also broadens cultural horizons, enhances interpersonal skills, and opens up opportunities for global careers in the rapidly evolving field of technology.
STIKI is highly committed to facilitating various student activities that support both academic and non-academic achievements. As an ICT-focused higher education institution, STIKI Malang provides opportunities for the younger generation to collectively develop competencies and creativity tailored to future needs. STIKI Malang is committed to preparing graduates who are capable and ready to compete in the era of globalization. For information on activities at STIKI Malang, please visit the website www.stiki.ac.id.