UNS – Two students from the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) at Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta have joined a student exchange program at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. Through the Semester@NIE program, supported by funding from the National Institute of Education (NIE) ASEAN Scholarship, Hasna Nurul Izzati, a student of the Informatics and Computer Technology Education Study Program, and Saifa Dewinugroho, a student of the Sociology and Anthropology Education Study Program, are taking courses at one of Asia’s top universities for four months.

NIE is an institute within NTU Singapore. Before participating in the program, which runs from August to December 6, 2024, Hasna and Saifa underwent several selection stages. The FKIP UNS International Office organized the selection process between February and March and included registration, administrative screening, and interviews.

“The selection process was coordinated by the FKIP UNS International Office. Eligible candidates were fourth- and sixth-semester students with a minimum GPA of 3.5, proficiency in active English proven by a valid certificate, a valid passport, health insurance, parental consent, and a recommendation letter from their respective Head of Study Program,” Hasna explained to uns.ac.id on Thursday (12/12/2024).

Hasna elaborated that participants in the program were allowed to select up to 10 courses. These courses are attended alongside regular NTU students. Additionally, international students were given guided tours of Singapore to gain a deeper understanding of the Lion City’s culture and characteristics.

“We were allowed to take 10 elective courses during our studies there. We were also invited to explore Singapore to learn more about its culture and characteristics. Moreover, we attended a four-week Wellness Program that covered topics such as local cuisine, tourist attractions, scams, and other aspects of Singaporean culture. This program also trained us to develop better communication skills,” Hasna shared.

She expressed her gratitude for the invaluable opportunity to experience a different culture and education system. Hasna highlighted her experience in the Modern Indonesia/Malaysia Singapore Literature course, which examined Indonesian history and its influence on literary development. “I recommend this course to future program participants,” she added.

UNS recognizes and converts the credits from this program into scores for Kuliah Kerja Nyata (KKN) and Pengenalan Lapangan Persekolahan (PLP). The student exchange program attended by Hasna and Saifa contributes to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, providing access to quality education, broadening their perspectives, and fostering cross-cultural understanding for more holistic learning. The program also develops global skills that are increasingly vital in today’s interconnected world.

Additionally, five top UNS students will represent the university in the NIE ASEAN Scholarship selection. NIE will conduct evaluations across its partner campuses and award scholarships to five Indonesian students who meet the criteria through administrative and interview assessments. The five UNS students have already been accepted into the Semester@NIE program for the upcoming semester and are currently processing their Student Pass applications.

This initiative demonstrates UNS’s commitment to supporting SDG 4, Quality Education, by providing extensive learning opportunities for students, as well as SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals, through international collaborations to achieve global educational objectives.

HUMAS UNS