Unpad: To Be a Good Home for Multinational Students

Universitas Padjadjaran (Unpad) is a university for foreign students who came from 17 countries. Most of them got master degree’s scholarship from Indonesia government. During their study time in Bandung, they experience many of things about Indonesia.

Alice, student from England, now is preffered tobe called by her Indonesian name, Elisa. In his home university, she took Southern Asia studies. Then, Elisa came to Unpad to deepen her knowledge about Indonesia art and languange. She knows many things about Batik, the traditional pattern of Indonesia.

“Mega mendung batik pattern was invented by the wife of Sultan Cirebon’s who came from China,” Elisa answered in Indonesian languange during interview with JFU News reporter. Her knowledge about Indonesian culture even higher than average Indonesian. She admitted that staying almost a year in Unpad has made her fall in love more with Indonesia.

From Elisa’s experience, we assume that the presence of foreign students plays a big role on promoting Indonesia. Their presence also a chance for local students to engaged in international frienship scope. For university itself, foreign students support Unpad’s vision to be recognized as world class university.

According to Unpad’s website, Unpad is a university with the most foreign students in Indonesia. More than 800 international students were enrolled in Unpad in 2009. Most of them are from Malaysia, Laos, Madagascar, Korea, Cambodia, Papua New Guinea and Uganda.

To enhance cooperation with Unpad, foreign students of Universitas Padjadjaran declared Unpad International Student Association (UISA) at San Gria Hotel, Lembang, on Monday (5/24). This association is expected to creates more dynamic activities for international students.

The declaration was read by the President of UISA, Shraman D. Haji Latif, students of Economy Studies from Philipines, followed by all UISA member’s representatives. This event supported and witnessed by Vice Rector for Student Affairs, dr. Trias Nugrahadi, Sp. KN and UISA advisor Harlan Dimas, SE., MA.

Sahraman said, the existence of international students is a signal that the university is able to provide world class education. UISA is also expected to facilitate foreign student’s effort to get to know and love their almamater, Universitas Padjadjaran.

“Sometimes local students seems shy to start conversation with me,” said Mousa, Unpad’s student from Ethophia. Some local students admitted that lack of confidence to speak in English became a great barrier for them to chat with foreign students. This matter become a big challenge for UISA, local students and also Unpad. Can UISA fill the gap between foreign students and local students?

UISA is formed after international students participated in Unpad International Day on 25th November 2009. International students from 17 countries got together and shared their culture, traditional clothes and foods to local students. They also made a cultural performance to enliven the event.(Yuliansari)

References:
http://www.unpad.ac.id/archives/25549
http://www.unpad.ac.id/archives/9205
Interview with Alice and Mousa