Tohoku University and University Al-Azhar Indonesia (UAI) have long cultivated a culture of trust and collaboration that has resulted in an exchange student program and visits from respective parties for the past few years. This was done as an effort of both parties’ internationalization strategy to tackle the need for an internationally sound curriculum, perspectives, and approaches that would enrich Tohoku University and UAI outlook.
On February 17, 2025, the exchange students between the respective parties took center stage once more as 6 students from Tohoku University studied for two weeks in UAI. Therefore, in light of this event, the Department of Japanese Literature of UAI has prepared a welcoming event for the aforementioned students in the 516 & 517 room, 5th floor of UAI.
Opening Remarks to Kickoff The Event
The event began with opening remarks from the Rector of UAI, Prof. Dr. Ir. Asep Saefuddin, M.Sc. wherein he hoped the exchange students were able to learn myriad things during their study in UAI and conveyed how collaborating with Tohoku University is pivotal to UAI internationalization strategy.
I hope that during your two-week stay here, you will be able to pick up numerous things from our students, staff, lecturers, and leaders. Your stay here will offer you an opportunity to experience and understand Indonesian culture, food, and architecture that would create an everlasting memory. It’s been our internationalization strategy objective with Tohoku University to experience this thing, and the collaboration with one of the best universities in Japan, such as Tohoku University, is instrumental for UAI growth in an international spectrum.
Afterward, the Dean of Humanities of UAI, Dr. Lusi Lian Piantari, S.S., M.Hum. underscored Prof. Asep’s remarks on the both parties exchange program objective.
I hope this collaboration can go further as we love the opportunity to explore each other’s culture and dynamics that will diversify and enhance our experience and broaden our horizons.
Then, The Head of the Japanese Linguistic Department of UAI, Vera Yulianti, S.S., M.A., conveyed a positive progress of the exchange student program.
In the past weeks, I’ve received the news that there will be a scholarship for three UAI students from Tohoku University to study there for one year. This is an unprecedented achievement that bore from the productivity and trust that resulted from the exchange student program between UAI and Tohoku University.
The great news delivered by Ms. Vera brought us to the group photo session.
Group photo
Exchange Students Introduction & Soran Bushi
With the group photo end, the introduction of Tohoku students commenced.
During our 2 days staying in Indonesia, we’re more curious than ever with Indonesia culture, and we enjoyed Indonesian food so much such as nasi goreng and sate ayam. We’re also surprised with the large number of motorcycles in Indonesia, and most of them are from Japan. Interesting facts, delicious food and unique culture encourage us to create a lot of memory here.
After the introduction, the Tohoku students delighted the audience with a surprise performance called soran bushi. It’s one of the most famous traditional songs and dances in Japan. It started as a sea shanty that is said to have been first sung by the herring fishermen of Hokkaido to encourage the fisherman during their work. Then, the shanty spread across the nation and became a nationally known traditional song that’s still sung to this day.
The audience shouted with joy and awe when witnessing the energetic soran bushi performance, and as the performance’s came to an end, it ushered us to the awarding session.
Awarding Session
The awarding session was conducted to honor the unrelentless and invaluable contribution of Ms. Sandra and Heni in developing the Department of Japanese Linguistics of UAI in its initial phase. The honor was also given to Ms. Bembi, who has continuously contributed to the department for the past four years and is now going to resign to pursue other opportunities.
Food Tasting
With the awarding session ended, it paved the way to a food-tasting session, where the exchange students from Tohoku University, tasted Indonesian traditional food and drinks such as bakwan malang, lemper, nagasari, risoles and es selasih hijau.
Conclusion
Both Tohoku University and UAI students’ plates were full of food, they started to mingle and socialize with each other. This marked the end of the welcoming event and started a new chapter of learning for the exchange students. With the program continuing to yield unprecedented success and benefits, the relationship between UAI and Tohoku University continues to grow, and it will inspire both parties to collaborate in other avenues to solidify each institution’s internationalization foundation. Aamiin (BR).