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UNAIR NEWS – A student of English Language and Literature study program, ��ܳ����Ծ��پ������(�����)�������� (UNAIR) Perwira Bagus Wicaksono has managed to get the opportunity to study at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for free thanks to IISMA (Indonesian International Student Mobility Award) scholarship.

The IISMA program provides opportunities for all Indonesian students to study at various well-known universities in the world. Through this program, the man known better as Nino chose the Bachelor of Business Administration (International Program) study program.

Nino said that he had gained many valuable experiences while attending IISMA. He admitted that he had to try harder to understand lecture material because he took a different major. In addition, IISMA’s various tasks and challenges require him to have good time management to survive during the program.

“However, what I learned during IISMA was very interesting because the courses were quite applicable and provided study cases to hone students’ problem-solving skills and critical thinking,” he explained during an interview with UNAIR NEWS on Saturday, April 8, 2023.

Advanced cities and diversity of Malaysia

Then, Nino said that he was very impressed with Malaysia. According to him, the country has made progress in terms of urban planning and public transportation. Malaysians can travel everywhere easily on government buses and trains. Most of the cities and housing there are neatly arranged.

In addition, he continued that although Malaysian culture is still related to Indonesia, the two still have differences, from Malaysian food, which uses more spices than MSG, to a diverse population because it consists of various national races, with the majority from the natives, China and India.

“This diversity also influences the commemoration of holidays there. However, the pop culture in Malaysia receives a lot of influence from Indonesia. So we often hear Indonesian songs and films being played there,” said the head of Language Debating Society (LDS) 2021.

“From IISMA, I learned that the world we live in now has lots of things to explore , and there are various cultures and people we can still meet in various places. It kind of encourages me to keep learning and exploring beyond,” he continued.

Two tips for passing IISMA selection

He also gave success tips to students who wanted to participate in the IISMA program. First, prepare well for the results of the English test. According to Nino, the English Proficiency Test (EPT) takes a long time to prepare, and the results determine the success of passing IISMA.

“There is a lot of material on YouTube that can be explored. The more thorough the preparation, the more likely you will get a good grade. Also, don’t forget to prepare the documents because they will take time and effort. Find as much information as possible through the IISMA website, and do not be embarrassed to ask alumni. Believe me; the results are worth it ,” he said.

Second, gain as much experience as possible. These experiences will help to increase the essay score and can be used for interviews.

“So, please, expand your experience while there is still a chance. Do not forget to ask friends and IISMA alumni to proofread your essay. The more relevant suggestions, the better your essay will be,” said Nino. (*)

Author: Rafli Noer Khairam

Editor: Khetfi Al Mawalia