In the Odd Semester of the Academic Year 2024/2025, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) once again welcomed new international students through the International Students Orientation (ISO) event, which took place on Friday, August 16, 2024, on the first floor of the Grha Sabha Pramana (GSP) Building.
This event, organized by the Office of International Affairs (OIA) UGM, aimed to introduce international students to the UGM and Yogyakarta environments and help them adapt smoothly during their studies. Additionally, it also served as a platform for international students to interact and get to know each other.
In the odd semester of 2024, UGM accepted 310 international students, consisting of 56 degree program students, 193 exchange program students, and 61 students in language and other non-degree programs.
The event began with a performance by Sastra Oebah, who presented the Niskala Dwipantara dance to welcome the international students. This dance is a blend of various Indonesian cultures, including Yogyakarta, Kalimantan, and Aceh.
Following the opening performance by Sastra Oebah, Prof. Dr. Puji Astuti, S.Si., M.Sc., Apt., Director of Partnerships and Global Relations at UGM, delivered her welcome address. She encouraged the international students to make full use of the campus facilities during their studies in Indonesia.
“Make the most of the facilities available at UGM, and don’t hesitate to seek assistance from the OIA team to ensure your studies go smoothly,” she advised.
The event continued with a brief overview of UGM and Indonesian immigration matters, presented by Risa Apriana Salam, a staff member of OIA UGM. International students were also provided with essential information about life in Yogyakarta, including accommodation options, tips for navigating the roads, and ways to integrate with the local community.
This explanation about life in Yogyakarta was further enriched by a sharing session from Dobrin Tsvetanov Bugov, an international student from Bulgaria who’s currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Anthropology at UGM with the Gadjah Mada International Fellowship (GMIF) scholarship. Known as Mas Dobrin, he shared his various experiences while studying in Indonesia. According to him, one of the most interesting aspects of Indonesia is its people.
“Indonesians are very friendly and love to chat, especially with foreigners. So don’t be surprised if they ask you all sorts of questions, including personal ones like whether you’re married, whether you have children, and so on,” said Mas Dobrin.
As the event drew to a close, several international students asked questions about life at UGM, such as how to obtain an alma mater jacket, how to join student clubs, how to open a bank account, and many more.
Overall, the ISO event showed the enthusiasm of international students for their studies at UGM. They were also eager to explore more of Indonesia. See you at the next ISO!
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