Published: 10 Sep 2019

As an international university, President University has a strategic role to bridge the understanding between global youth. One way to achieve this objective is through the university’s summer course program. Relationships building and introduction of Indonesian culture become the focal points that President University upholds within the program. The program itself aims to enrich the participants with knowledge of Indonesian culture.

A total of seven students from National United University (NUU) Taiwan and Osaka University of Tourism (OUT) Japan, two partner universities of President University, participated in the program in July and August 2019 respectively.

During the four weeks of their stay, the seven students attended the Indonesian language course, as well as cultural courses on playing gamelan, making batik, and performing martial arts.

“It is different, Indonesian language and English. The pronunciation is too different such as the a, b, c, and so on,” said Cindy a student of NUU, majoring in Finance. Despite the initial difficulties in learning the Indonesian language, the students enjoyed the courses as they were conducted in an interactive way.

Participants enthusiastically learned Indonesian culture as they practiced a traditional martial art, played some gamelan instruments, and got first-hand experienced in making batik, the universally acknowledged Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity of Indonesia according to the UNESCO.

The Summer Course Program was organized by the International Student Affairs (ISA) bureau of President University. During the program, they arranged visitations to Karawang (West Java), Kota Tua (Jakarta), and Kepulauan Seribu (Jakarta). In August 2019, the ISA took the students to Saung Angklung Udjo in Bandung to learn about Angklung, a traditional musical instrument unique to West Java. The students also had the opportunity to attend the flag ceremony to commemorate Indonesia’s independence day. (NA/APW)


Menjembatani Pemahaman Melalui Pengalaman Budaya pada Summer Course Program di President University

Sebagai universitas internasional, President University memiliki peran strategis untuk menjembatani pemahaman anatara mahasiswa domestik dan asing. Salah satu upaya dalam merealisasikan tujuan ini adalah melalui program Summer Course. Pembangunan hubungan yang baik diiringi dengan pengenalan budaya Indonesia menjadi fokus utama yang dijunjung tinggi oleh President University dalam pelaksanaan program ini. Harapannya, program Summer Course dapat memperkaya partisipan dengan pengetahuan akan budaya Indonesia.

Sebanyak tujuh mahasiswa dari National United University (NUU) Taiwan dan Osaka University of Tourism (OUT) Jepang, dua universitas rekanan President University, turut serta dalam program Summer Course yang dilaksanakan pada bulan Juli dan Agustus 2019.

Dalam kurun waktu empat minggu, ketujuh mahasiswa aktif mengikuti berbagai kelas budaya, di antaranya kelas gamelan, batik, seni bela diri, dan kelas Bahasa Indonesia.

“Itu berbeda, Bahasa Indonesia dan Bahasa Inggris. Pengucapannya terlalu berbeda seperti a, b, c dan sebagainya,” ujar Cindy, mahasiswi NUU, jurusan Finance. Meskipun pada awal mula program mereka mengalami kesulitan dalam belajar Bahasa Indonesia, para mahasiswa menikmati proses pembelajaran yang interaktif.

Ke-enam peserta program Summer Course dengan antusias mempelajari budaya Indonesia, terutama ketika mereka mengikuti langsung latihan seni bela diri tradisional, memainkan beberapa alat musik gamelan, dan mengikuti kegiatan membatik, yang telah diakui secara universal sebagai Mahakarya Warisan Lisan dan Warisan Manusia yang Tak Berwujud di Indonesia mengacu pada UNESCO.

Program Summer Course ini diselenggarakan oleh biro Hubungan Mahasiswa Internasional President University. Selama program berlangsung, mereka mengorganisir beberapa kunjungan ke Karawang (Jawa Barat), Kota Tua (DKI Jakarta), dan Kepulauan Seribu (DKI Jakarta). Pada Agustus 2019, biro Hubungan Mahasiswa Internasional membawa para partisipan ke Saung Angklung Udjo di Bandung untuk mempelajari alat musik tradisional khas Jawa Barat, yakni Angklung. Keenam partisipan juga berkesempatan untuk menghadiri upacara bendera untuk memperingati hari kemerdekaan Indonesia. (NA/APW)