UNAIR NEWS – Studying abroad is every student’s dream, including Lorichika Gustinda Larasati, a graduate of Aquaculture program, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences (FPK) Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) from Admission Class of 2017. Now, she is undergoing a fast-track double degree program in Indonesia and Taiwan.
Lori explained that the fast-track program is an acceleration of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees that can be completed in five years. Then for the master’s double degree program, the first year is in Indonesia and the second year is abroad.
She chose a master’s degree in Fisheries and Marine Biotechnology at UNAIR and Biological Science and Technology at the National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (NPUST) Taiwan. It was not her first time to study abroad as she has been involved in international activities, such as an internship at Kasetsart University Thailand. She also had mini research and succeeded in publishing at the Institute of Physics (IOP).
Double Degree preparation
In the process, she explained that the qualifications for the double degree program by FPK UNAIR included an undergraduate GPA, language proficiency certificate (IELTS/TOEFL/CEFR), research plan, CV, passport, and other supporting documents. Next was the interview stage with the Head of the FPK UNAIR Masters Program. Before leaving for Taiwan, she also told her strategy.
“I intend to finish all courses at UNAIR so that I can only focus on research when I am in Taiwan. But here, I have to take two more courses, seminars, and advanced molecular biology, as well as working on a thesis,” she said.
In addition, before her departure, Lori had also been looking for lecturers in Taiwan who had expertise according to her thesis topic in the field of vaname shrimp Immunology. “ Alhamdulillah, I was accepted into Prof. Shao-Yang Hu’s lab. from the Department of Biological Science and Technology and my co-prof, Prof. Liu from the Department of Aquaculture,” said the former assistant of Microbiology Practicum FPK UNAIR.
Advantages of studying abroad
Regarding her life abroad, Lori said she had learned a lot of life lessons. Because living away from family requires her to be more responsible. Not to mention adjusting to the culture, such as sorting waste before handing it over to a mobile garbage truck.
However, she is very grateful to have this opportunity. According to her, knowledge from the field can be learned through journals or books. However, the experience of adapting and collaborating abroad is invaluable.
Lori emphasized that students must not be from wealthy families to study abroad. But looking for cooperation between campuses at home and overseas is necessary to get recommendations.
“There are lots of scholarships, but don’t just stick to the famous scholarships as the competition must be big too. So seek more research scholarships in the destination country/universities. Thank God I did not have to pay for the tuition, research, and even got a stipend from professors,” said Lori, a former FPK UNAIR ambassador.
Author: Viradyah Lulut Santosa
Editor : Khefti Al Mawalia
