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.
