Friday (16/6) University Al-Azhar Indonesia (UAI) welcomed five students of Prince Songkla University (PSU) who have been selected to participate in a study exchange program in UAI for two months at Terminal 2 Soekarno Hatta International Airport. The students are Romsee Hayee-asa, Kameela Arong, Nuru Hama, Rusma Adam, and Hanan Sulong from the Faculty of Islamic sciences. The program is designed to support undergraduate exchanges for academic and cultural enrichment between the two universities which will take place in the Faculty of Psychology and education until August 2023. During the arrival, the students were welcomed by the office of international affairs as well as the students of Faculty of Psychology and Education of UAI.
Sunday (18/6) in a bid to explore Jakarta as well as to know the Islamic culture in Indonesia, the students of Faculty of Psychology of Education guided all the five PSU’s students to visit the central area of the town. This is a part of the city tour agenda to visit Jakarta’s Old Town and Istiqlal Mosque. As it is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia and the sixth largest mosque in the world in terms of worshipper capacity, they can learn and know it as the symbol of the Muslim civilization in Jakarta.
Monday (19/6) the five students were scheduled to follow several activities in UAI. In the morning, they were guided by the office of international affairs to have a campus tour. They visited Al-Azhar Grand Mosque, Al-Azhar high school, sports field, UAI’s library, canteen, discussion room, office of international affairs, etc. Afterwards, it was followed by the welcoming event. On the occasion, Dr. Drs. Fidesrinur, M.Pd. (Dean of Faculty of Psychology and Education) expressed his excitement in his opening remarks. His faculty has a student’s union which is called “Keluarga Mahasiswa Fakultas – KMF”. “Keluarga” means “Family”, therefore the Faculty of Psychology of Education will be your family here in Indonesia.
“Enjoy your study in UAI and the Faculty of Psychology and Education. I hope the experiences that we offer can be the foundation for all of you to have a deeper understanding in knowing Islamic in Sciences as well as to support your passion”. (Dr. Fides)
Moreover, as a form of welcome all his faculty members were draped off the lanyard to all the five students of PSU and they all are now parts of UAI. The four departments in the Faculty of Psychology of Education which are Islamic Guidance and Counselling Department, Islamic Education Department, Psychology Department, and Early Childhood Education Department have offered a variety of courses that can be followed by the exchange program students themselves. Last but not least, the students also got the chance to be trained in how to use the “Kampus Merdeka – Merdeka Belajar” – “Freedom of Learning Independent Campus” as the obligation for them during their study in UAI to support the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia. The application can be used to write and report each of the student’s activities during their stay in Indonesia. It also features some functions for them to check their schedule as well as their grade system that will be transferred to their home university after finishing their study here.
“Indonesia is clearly similar to our place and UAI and it is definitely our home. Thank you for welcoming all of us kindly. We’re happy and words can’t describe how we feel now, Jazakallah Khairan”. (Exchange Program Students of PSU)
In the same way, after the welcoming event, Prof. Dr. Ir. Asep Saefuddin, M.Sc. (Rector) together with Dr. Drs. Zirmansyah, M.Pd. (Vice Rector I for Academic Affairs), Ir. Ade Suryanti, M.M. IPU. (Vice Rector II for Resources) and Dr. Faisal Hendra, Lc., M.A. (Vice Rector III for Student Affairs and Alumni) invited all the PSU’s students to meet them in the rectorate room at the 2nd floor of UAI. All the UAI’s leaders delivered their thoughts, “UAI is a private university which is integrated with Islamic Values. They hope all of the students can maximize their time here, as UAI is currently socializing the importance of Islamic sustainable development and civilization in higher education”. Also, there are lots of extracurricular activities that they can join. UAI has many clubs for badminton, football, Samanita UAI (Saman Dance), Rascho (Music), and so many more.
As having this implementation on going, UAI and PSU will keep advancing their tight relation from the last memorandum of understanding (MoU) and memorandum of agreement (MoA) which were signed in 2022 to more others meaningful programs in the future to improve the world’s education system especially Islamic education today. (TSH)