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UNAIR NEWS – There were more than 150 international students ready to learn in ������. They were welcomed by Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE) as the coordinator of international education  through an event called  “Welcoming Reception International Student” in Kahuripan Hall 300, on Friday, September 22.

The international students were from various programs. There were 11 students from Developing Countries Partnership (KNB), 11 students from Dharmasiswa program, and more than 60 students from Mobility Undergraduate Student Program (AMERTA), and the rest were students from regular programs.

Thomas van Schaik, a student from AMERTA program said that he will be in the program for six months. He said he wanted to gain experience of learning cultures different from his home country, Holland. He wanted to know more about Indonesian cultures.

I wanted to find something different as there are same routines in Holland. I want to explore something new from different country and I chose AMERTA program because Indonesia must have different cultures from Holland,” stated Thomas, who studies Psychology in Holland.

Different from Thomas, Jaerim Lee is in UNAIR  in a Dharmasiswa scholarship program. It is a scholarship specially offered by the Indonesian government to international students interested in learning  Bahasa Indonesia for a year.

Lee, a student of Indonesian Literature in his country, said that his visit to Jakarta couple of years ago made him interested in learning about Indonesia. “They (Jakarta residents) are very friendly. I really enjoy the Indonesian food. Those are reasons of my interest to Indonesia,” explained Lee,a student from South Korea.

In Indonesia, Lee is not alone. He is with his three partners in learning Bahasa Indonesia. One of them is Ji Hyun Park. Ji is quite fluent speaking Indonesian shared  her plan after finishing the program.

“I have plans to teach Bahasa Indonesia to my juniors,” she said.

International Program staff of  AGE Irfan Wahyudi, Ph.D, said that this inbound mobility program is a routine program. To achieve learning success in Indonesia, AGE has assigned local students to accompany them.

“We always assign one buddy to each international student. The local student will help them to look for boarding houses, making a bank account and other affairs and make sure everything runs well during their stay in Surabaya. When they are in classes, they are also accompanied,” said Irfan.

As planned, for next year, AGE has prepared eight new programs to improve the number of international students studying in UNAIR such as International Fun Community Service Program – Learning Together with the Community (KKN-BBM) and  AMERTA program for master students.

“With these programs, not only the quantity is improved but also the quality,” added the lecturer of Communication Department.

Author: Defrina Sukma S

Editor: Nuri Hermawan