Batch 3 Student Exchange – Indonesian Institute of the Arts Yogyakarta (2023)

• Posted by: Admin
• Jumat, 12 Januari 2024
• Has been read 67 time(s)

I am I Wayan Wikananda Dharma Kusuma Putra who is a fourth year student of the Japanese Literature Study Program who has currently completed one of the programs of the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, namely the Merdeka Student Exchange (PMM). I carried out the PMM program for one semester at the Indonesian Institute of Arts Yogyakarta with friends from various provinces in Indonesia. This program is based on the desire of students to learn material and knowledge outside the study program they take at their home campus and also an effort to exchange cultures, thoughts, and aspirations from various students in Indonesia.

The beginning of our arrival in Yogyakarta was on August 25, 2023 at Yogyakarta International Airport located in Kulon Progo Regency. We were greeted by two Liaison Officers who are students from ISI Yogyakarta itself, namely Wuri and Sonia. After that we were escorted to the ISI Yogyakarta campus which is located in Sewon District, Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region. Once we got there, we were immediately directed to find our respective temporary residences. Three days after our arrival, on August 28, 2023, we were officially welcomed by ISI Yogyakarta with a ceremony to welcome PMM Batch 3 students at the Multipurpose Building of the Indonesian Institute of Arts Yogyakarta. We were also invited to tour the ISI Yogyakarta campus area while being introduced to the deans who served at that time. After that, we were invited to ISI Yogyakarta's library to be taught to fill out our respective Study Plan Cards. I chose various subjects from three study programs namely Dance, Theater, and Performing Arts Education. 

Lectures at ISI Yogyakarta are very interesting and fun. The lecturers at ISI Yogyakarta are very friendly and accept us like any other student here. They also often invite us to hang out and talk at the angkringan located behind the campus. We are also often invited to events and concerts that take place at ISI Yogyakarta directly by the lecturers who teach the subjects that organize these events. We feel proud to be part of PMM Batch 3 ISI Yogyakarta because we can interact directly and also get comfortable treatment from ISI Yogyakarta.

We also carry out mandatory activities from this PMM program, namely the Nusantara Module. The Nusantara Module is an activity that is accommodated for PMM students so that they can get to know, learn, and also share the culture that exists in the campus area they choose in this program. Starting from visiting Prambanan Temple, Borobudur Temple, camping at the foot of Mount Merapi, even visiting areas outside Yogyakarta such as Jombang and Mojokerto. We are very grateful to have this rare opportunity to enjoy our youth in a positive and memorable way.

Although our trip and experience was very short, we will never forget our life during this semester in our beloved Yogyakarta. Because in the end, we will meet again as various individuals who finally achieve our respective goals, in accordance with PMM's slogan, "Temporary Exchange, Forever Meaningful".