On Monday, September 2, the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI) welcomed international students participating in the Developing Countries Partnership Program (KNB) 2023 and UI GREAT Program 2024. Seven students attended the event in person, while two others joined virtually. The international students accepted into the KNB 2023 and UI GREAT 2024 programs hail from various countries, including Timor Leste, India, South Sudan, and Tanzania. The event was attended by Dr. Nyoman Suwartha, S.T., M.T., M.Agr., FTUI’s Manager of Education, Fadhilah Muslim, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., DIC, Head of the FTUI International Office, and Dyas L. Citraningrum, S.T., M.T., Coordinator of the International Class Education.
In his speech, Fadhilah Muslim reiterated the importance of understanding the regulations related to the KNB and UI GREAT scholarship programs. The students in these programs will be attending regular classes, where the language of instruction is Indonesian. Therefore, proficiency in Indonesian communication is a key requirement for students.
Prof. Ir. Mahmud Sudibandriyo, M.Sc., Ph.D., as the Acting Dean of FTUI, extended a warm welcome to the international students of the KNB 2023 and UI GREAT 2024 Programs at FTUI.
“We are delighted to welcome you all to our campus and hope that your academic journey here will be a valuable step in your personal and professional development. Through these programs, we aim to strengthen international networks and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and culture, which will enrich our academic environment,” stated Prof. Mahmud.
The event also served as a platform for students to share any challenges they were facing. Some students had not yet arrived in Indonesia as they were still waiting for their visas, while others had not received their student cards (KTM) or been assigned academic advisors. However, the FTUI International Office provided solutions to address these issues. FTUI also shared information regarding additional Indonesian language classes available to international students, as all courses in FTUI’s Master’s Program are delivered in Indonesian.
On this occasion, Fadhilah Muslim expressed hope that the international students of the KNB 2023 and UI GREAT 2024 programs would be enthusiastic about learning Indonesian. He encouraged students to take intensive language classes, communicate with friends in Indonesian, and build friendships with local students to improve their language skills. Fadhilah also emphasized that students could consult the FTUI International Office at any time if they encountered academic or non-academic challenges.
With this support, it is hoped that international students will adapt well and smoothly navigate their studies at FTUI.
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Public Communications Office
Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia
