UNAIR NEWS – In its ongoing effort to produce veterinarians prepared for the professional world, the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FKH) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) has once again launched its “Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka” (MBKM) program. This year, 194 seventh-semester students will participate in internships across 13 districts and cities throughout East Java. A send-off ceremony took place at the FKH UNAIR yard on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.
The ceremony symbolizes the beginning of a significant journey for the FKH students as they begin to put their academic knowledge into practice. For the next three months, from September to November, the students will gain hands-on experience at Animal Health Centers and veterinary clinics, earning a total of 20 academic credits. In her remarks, Dean of FKH UNAIR, Prof. Dr. Mirni Lamid, advised the students to uphold the reputation of their institution.
“Equally important, take care of your health during the internship. You are in a remarkable position, so cherish it. Through the MBKM program, you will be better equipped to face the challenges of the professional world and directly contribute to improving animal health in society,” emphasized Prof. Lamid.
Learning through hands-on experience
Prof. Dr. Widjiati, the Head of MBKM FKH UNAIR program, explained that this internship program is specifically designed to align with the seventh-semester curriculum. She elaborated that the students will gain experience handling a range of animal health cases, involving both large and small animals.
“We have involved 105 alumni veterinarians as external supervising lecturers, in addition to 28 internal lecturers from FKH to provide comprehensive guidance throughout the internship,” she explained.
Prof. Widjiati further stated that the MBKM program aims to make students’ learning outcomes more targeted and effective. “The outcome of this program is to equip students with strong skills grounded in real-world experience,” she stated.
Expanding reach, enhancing quality
Prof. Mimi further noted that this year’s MBKM FKH UNAIR program includes several enhancements, such as expanding the range of internship locations and improving the quality of preparatory training. She highlighted that students also have the opportunity to conduct research proposals online, allowing their educational activities to continue effectively.
“We hope that the MBKM program will enable students to make meaningful contributions to society, particularly in animal health. Additionally, this program is expected to improve the quality of FKH UNAIR graduates and improve the faculty’s visibility and reputation in the broader community,” she concluded.
Author: Hana Mufidatuz Zuhrah
Editor: Edwin Fatahuddin
