UNAIR NEWS – Who wouldn’t want to study abroad on a scholarship? Every student surely dreams of it, including Noni Trisha Hapsari. Thanks to the IISMA Kemdikbudristek scholarship, the Management student from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) realized her dream of studying at the University of Sussex in England.
Noni enrolled in the School of Media and Arts and Humanities program, with various elective courses such as Psychology, Anthropology, Journalism, and Digital Media.
Lectures and Seminars
Noni shared her IISMA experience and the excitement she felt both academically and non-academically. The University of Sussex conducts two types of sessions: lectures and seminars. In a lecture, professors typically present material for 1-2 hours, and all students taking a specific course attend the same lecture. Seminars, on the other hand, last for about an hour with a limited number of students, around 10-15 individuals.
According to Noni, seminars are more engaging as they are led by tutors and delve deeper into the topics covered in the lectures. She finds seminars more enjoyable than lectures because students can express their opinions. It is a platform for discussions with fellow students and tutors.
Impressive extracurricular activities
Noni highlighted that the University of Sussex offers equally impressive academic and non-academic programs. Extracurricular activities on campus come in the form of societies and sports clubs. Societies cover a wide range of interests, from Taylor Swift enthusiasts, Album Listening Society, and Craft Society to religious communities and nationality-based communities.
Noni particularly enjoyed participating in the Film Society, where they watch films and engage in discussions or casual conversations about them. She emphasized that societies are great opportunities to meet and make new friends.
In addition to these, there is a program called Buddy Scheme, a support system for students who face difficulty adapting and seeking companionship during their studies. Any student can register for the Buddy Scheme and will be matched with a volunteer student who suits their preferences.
Noni explained that many participants are exchange students or freshmen, and the program includes bonding activities such as visits to the Brighton Museum and Art Gallery, decorating Christmas cards, and ice skating in the city.
Valuable lessons
In the end, the Surabaya-native student acknowledged that IISMA provided her with valuable lessons. Through IISMA, she gained confidence and learned not to fear expressing opinions in class because the professors and tutors highly appreciate student input.
“There are no incorrect responses. If a student’s answer is not quite right, the professor will correct it without passing judgment,” said Noni.
Noni learned the importance of making friends with anyone. During her time in Sussex, she made friends with both postgraduate students and first-year students.
“Although there is an age difference, it is not quite noticeable. We can still be friends, just like peers,” she concluded. (*)
Author: Rafli Noer Khairam
Editor: Khefti Al Mawalia
