UNSYIAH Holds the First IMT-GT UNINET Student Mobility in Malaysia and Thailand

19 students of UNSYIAH participated in the first IMT-GT UNINET Student Mobility Program in Malaysia and Thailand, November 20th – 29th, 2019. This program is initiated by the IMT-GT UNINET (Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle) Program in collaboration with Office of International Affairs (OIA) of Syiah Kuala University.

Syiah Kuala University students engaged in this program are from Veterinary Faculty, Teacher Training and Education Faculty, Science Faculty, Medical Faculty, Agricultural Faculty, Economic and Business Faculty, Political Science Faculty, and Disaster Science Faculty of Master Program.

The students start the first three days at University Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) where they had a discussion among students, and made several visits to the Centre of HandCraft Incubator in Kuala Perlis, Woodball of UniMAP Sports Centre, and Fig fruit field of Superfruit Valley in Perlis Malaysia. The aim of the program is to create a discussion platform where students share cultures and ideas with Malaysia students, and obtain new knowledge and experiences in certain areas through academic and non-academic visits that have been conducted.
“We are glad that we can welcome all of you here in Malaysia. This is the first time for both of us to have the IMT-GT UNINET Student Mobility Program at the university and us as the host university. In the future, we hope we can rise up the program especially on education by arranging some new projects”, said by Hoo Peng Yong (Arthur), Ph.D., AMIChemE, GE, Deputy Director of Internationalization Division, Centre for International Affairs (CIA), Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP).

Depart from UniMAP, the participants headed to Thailand, where they were divided into two groups, one visiting Thaksin University and the other to visit Walailak University. In Thailand, the activities were similar. In Thaksin University, students visited some Faculties, Computer Laboratory, Animal Farm of Phatthalung Dairy Cattle Farmer Co-Operative, Zoo of Nalae Noi Bird Sanctuary and Swamp Buffaloes Roaming Site, and Talard Tai Nod, a traditional market located under Palmyra Palm Tree. During the activities, the students from Disaster Science faculty had a light discussion with masters students from Thaksin University on Disaster Management based on a case study of Tsunami that ravaged the city of Aceh in 2004. From this review, it is expected that both students could obtain a deep understanding of disaster issues locally and globally.

Meanwhile, students at Walailak University were welcome by Dr. Surin Maisrikrod, Vice Rector of Global Collaboration of the university. The group had the opportunity to visit Mangrove Forest in Ban Laem Home Stay, Library, Faculty of Veterinary, Faculty of Architecture and Design, and several spots of tourism in Nakhon Sri Thammarat City. As part of the cultural exchange, the students had an opportunity to practice the traditional dance of Thailand and teach English for Elementary School students at Mahad Islamiyah Foundation School (Ban Klang).
“This program is the first time successfully held by Syiah Kuala University, organized by Office of International Affairs, which the purpose is to expand student experiences and increase networks globally especially for Acehnese students. We hope this program can motivate other IMT-GT UNINET university members to join this program in the future to develop well mobility and cultural exchanges among universities members”, quoted by Dr. Muzailin Affan, the Chairman of Office of International Affairs.

Through this program, it is expected that the three universities can strengthen and support the cooperation, improving qualified global activities that can give competent output for academic and non-academic purposes.

“The IMT-GT UNINET Student Mobility Program aims to develop student skills in certain areas, especially we arranged it in two different countries. And we hope after this program students can support Syiah Kuala University to achieve the title “UNSYIAH Road to World Class University”, said by Ria Ervilita, S.Pd., M.Sc, the Staff of OIA of UNSYIAH.