Student exchange programs have become increasingly popular in recent years, and for good reason. Studying abroad provides me with the opportunity to learn about a new culture, gain valuable language skills, and experience a different educational system. Japan, in particular, is a popular destination for student exchange programs, and it offers a wide range of benefits to international students.
The AIMS Outbound Program is an MBKM program that facilitates student exchanges overseas. This time, I chose to join the program at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) from September 12, 2022, until December 16, 2022, which is equivalent to approximately three months’ worth of time. It was just me, Melodia Rezadhini, representing UGM as the sole outgoing student representative from the university. This program includes a variety of different activities, some of which are academic and some of which are not academic. Aside from that, this program also results in positive aspects that can be taken, such as the positive culture or habits of the Japanese people, which can be adapted to and become a part of one’s everyday life. It is comparable to self-control and determination. Additionally, the relationship between Japanese professors and students at TUAT can be established in order to pave the way for this relationship to one day be mutually beneficial and advantageous. Facilities can be obtained through this program in the form of financial assistance or scholarships from the Faculty of Agriculture at Gadjah Mada University. These facilities can be used to cover the costs of accommodation and day-to-day living expenses while traveling in Japan for a period of three months. TUAT offers a variety of facilities to its students, including monthly rent for dormitories, access to academic accounts at TUAT, a variety of study tours that are also facilitated by the host professors, as well as a selection of insurance options.
Academic Activities
The academic activities offered are in the form of lectures and field activities totaling 30 credits. Meanwhile, the number of credits I took was 14 credits covering lectures in class, laboratory practice, short research, and field activities.
Final Presentation
Non-Academic Activities
Besides schoolwork, I enjoy participating in extracurricular Japanese sports and music events, as well as student group activities, traveling to various tourist attractions with my friend Buddy, and making international friends.
Benefit
One of the most significant benefits of my experience was the opportunity to learn about Japanese culture. Before going to Japan, I had only a basic understanding of the culture and its customs. However, during my exchange, I had the opportunity to attend a Japanese school, and participate in cultural activities. This experience allowed me to immerse myself in the culture, gain a deeper understanding of it, and appreciate the differences between Japanese culture and my own.
Another benefit of my exchange program was the opportunity to develop language skills. Japanese is a difficult language to learn, but being surrounded by the language on a daily basis gave me a unique opportunity to practice and improve my language skills.
I also appreciated the opportunity to experience a different educational system. Japan has a highly respected education system that emphasizes discipline, hard work, and respect for authority. By studying in Japan, I had the chance to experience this system firsthand, learn new ways of approaching education and gain new skills and knowledge that I would not have been exposed to otherwise.
Finally, the friendships and networks that I developed during my exchange program have been invaluable. By attending school with Japanese students, I was able to form close relationships with people from different cultures, and these relationships have lasted well beyond my time in Japan. These connections have been useful to me in many different areas of my life, and I am grateful for the opportunity to have made them.
In conclusion, my student exchange program in Japan was a transformative experience that offered many benefits. I was able to learn about a new culture, gain language skills, experience a different educational system, and develop lasting friendships and networks. I highly recommend this experience to anyone who has the opportunity to participate in a student exchange program in Japan.
See you next time, Japan!