Taiwan’s Ocean Camp Gives International Students New Insight into Realities of Marine and Agriculture

Rachmat Fazil Isda (Faculty of Business and Economy), Ihza Azizul Hakim, (Engineering Faculty), Muhammad Zhafran (Engineering Faculty), and Muhammad Zaki Mubarak (Political & Science Faculty), all from Syiah Kuala University, participated in the 3rd International Ocean Camp program organized by National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan, October 21-31, 2019.

The one-week short course was developed to give international students new insights into marine and Taiwan cultures and began with an overview of Taiwan marine. This activity discussed marine and aquaculture studies. All participants gaining knowledge about fisheries science, shipping transportation management, fisheries technology, the potential of the shipping industry, and cruise ships in the Asia Pacific market. Besides, the participants had a chance to learn the Mandarin language.

Outside the classroom, all participants explored Taiwan. They were taken around Heping Island, Taipei 101, Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen Old Street, and National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, tourist attractions sites in northern Taiwan.

All participants also have the opportunity to meet fellow students who were studying at National Taiwan Ocean University on the Culture Day event, where all delegates could enjoy and eat typical food of each country and take pictures wearing the country’s traditional clothes. And the most interesting thing is the Cruise Trip experience where all delegates surrounded Keelung Harbor by a small cruise and learn about the components in the port, the process of loading and unloading goods into cargo, and the process of exiting and entering ships at the Keelung port. It was an extraordinary experience because such experiences are rarely found in Indonesia and the similarity between the regions of Taiwan camp; Indonesia opened the insight that the sea could be a great source of livelihood if everything were done properly.

“It was my pleasure to represent Syiah Kuala University at the fisheries and aquaculture program (International Ocean Camp Program) organised by National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung City, Taiwan. The university is located in the north of Taiwan.  It is close to the beach, where everyone could see and enjoy the peerless view of sunrise and the sundowner. Different languages, cultures, and lifestyles make you feel that you are part of the amazing community, pursuing you to stay for longer than planned.

Trips create long-lasting memories and for sure this is one to remember, my first time to visit Taiwan, first flight outside ASEAN’s countries, unforgettable experience cruising to surround the port of Keelung. I learned a lot about how effective technology is in loading and unloading the goods. I was invited to visit Heping Island, Taipei 101, Yeh Liu Geopark, Keelung Night Market, Jiufen Old Street, Chaojing Park, and National Museum of Marine Science of Science Camp; Technology.

Everything amazed me, my picturesque journey. I know this may sound like fiction but it was not. I saw with my eyes, I felt with my heart, I walked with my feet”, quoted by Rachmat Fazil Isda.

90 students from 3 countries ; Indonesia (Universitas Syiah Kuala, Universitas Airlangga, Universitas Sriwijaya, Universitas Gadjah Mada), Malaysia (Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Thailand (Chiang Mai University) and Vietnam (FPT University, Can Tho University,Nha Trang University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport, Vietnam Maritime University, Vietnam University of Agriculture) participated in this program.