UNAIR NEWS – Universitas Airlangga consistently sends its best students to join the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) programs, including the International Student Mobility Award (IISMA). A total of 57 students have been sent to various parts of the world to participate in the program. Wibawanto Wahyu Widodo from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences becomes one of the awardees who has been sent to the University of Warsaw, Poland, from September to January.
Wiby, for short, chose the University of Warsaw for its courses that fit his interests. He gained a lot of insight and new perspectives from another side of the world.
“I gained valuable knowledge, especially because I was able to learn from different perspectives,” he said.
All the courses he took followed a similar 90-minute learning system. What set them apart was the variation in content and course load.
“The courses I took are all 90-minute-long lectures. The professors rarely assign homework; they conduct exams at the end of each semester,” Wiby said.
“Apart from the academic activities, I took part in the IISMA challenge. We celebrate Batik Day and Indonesian Day, where we promote Indonesian culture to the international audience,” he said.
During his free time, he visited the historical Książ Castle. “The castle has a dark history. Beneath the castle lies a tunnel complex built by war prisoners during the Nazi German era,” he said.
Unlike most students who experience culture shock due to language and weather differences, Wiby used these moments to interact with the international community. “I have become accustomed to interacting with people around the world, which enhances my communication skills, thanks to IISMA,” he said.
The program allows Wiby to improve his insight, especially in completing his final research. “After returning to Indonesia, I hope to share all of my experiences here with others. I also hope to help others who want to join the program accomplish their aspirations,” he said.
Author: Lady Khairunnisa Adiyani
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
