The Indonesian International Student Mobility Award (IISMA) again sends Indonesia’s top students to the world’s top universities. For the Asian region, 23 students from 17 universities left for Taiwan, Thursday (25/8), to study for one semester at the National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. In the European Region, there are Maastricht University, the University of Twente, and Radboud University in the Netherlands which will welcome a total of 34 Indonesian students who left the day before, Wednesday (24/8).
The second batch of IISMA that departed for Taiwan increased compared to the previous period, from 10 people to 23 people. The release event which was conducted online was attended by representatives from the Independent Learning Campus (MBKM) program of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek); Taipei Indonesian Economic Trade Office (IETO); Office of International Affairs (KUI) of Domestic Universities; and student parents.
The Head of Tourism and Transportation of IETO Taipei, Ichwan Joesoef, advised the students to be able to adapt to cultural differences and drastic climate changes, obey local rules and regulations, and assimilate with local and international communities in Taiwan.
Meanwhile, the release of the Netherlands is the second group. Previously there were 8 students who went to Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, so a total of 46 awardees in the second batch who underwent the IISMA program in the Netherlands. One of the KUI representatives from Trisakti University, Amaliza Zuhra, reminded that being an awardee is an honor for domestic universities. “You are the representatives and faces of Indonesia there,” added another KUI representative from Binus University, Laili Afa Citra.
In a separate event, the Acting Director of Learning and Student Affairs of the Ministry of Education and Culture, Sri Gunani Pratiwi, said that IISMA is an entry point for pursuing goals. This is felt by Ayunda Izzatul Iman, a student from Airlangga University who became the recipient of the first batch of IISMA scholarships at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).
“IISMA provides the best experience I’ve ever had. I even took part in volunteer activities to become a tutor for young children from Indonesia who live in Malaysia. I am very proud because I was able to develop myself while I was here,” said Ayunda.
Ayunda is one of 13 Indonesian students who last returned home in mid-August. Their return marks the completion of the entire series of IISMA 2021 or the first batch of IISMA programs. While at USM, the students held an Art Performance and Culture Booth at the Coffee Hour Day event, a cultural exhibition held by USM as a forum for students from different national backgrounds.
Besides Indonesia, there are eight other participating countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Germany, South Korea, Japan, Belgium, and France. For further information about the IISMA program, please contact the Coordinator for Communication, Cooperation and Promotion of the IISMA Program, Ida Puspita at 081318852414.