Juma Iking and Hyunji Shin are two foreign students who got the opportunity to take part in a one-semester student exchange program at the UGM Faculty of Biology in the Even Semester 2022/2023. Juma Iking is a student in the Bachelor of Biology program from Radboud University, the Netherlands and Hyun Ji Shin from Jeonbuk National University, South Korea. At the UGM Faculty of Biology, Juma took courses in Paleontology, Mammalogy, Entomology, Mycology, Plant Biosystematics and Biogeography. Meanwhile, Hyunji took courses in Cyto Genetics, Biotechnology, Evolution, Cell and Molecular Biology, and Plant Development Structure.
“Living in Yogakarta, Indonesia, and studying Biology at UGM was a very interesting experience. This was my first time visiting Indonesia, but everyone, from students to staff and professors, was very kind and caring. “I was also involved in volunteer activities at Somoitan Elementary School every weekend, which was the most memorable experience,” said Hyunji.
Both Hyunji Shin and Juma Iking stated that they had gained extraordinary and memorable experiences, especially during their exchange at the Faculty of Biology UGM. They have also visited various places in Indonesia and enjoyed the natural beauty and its culture. It is hoped that this activity can encourage the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDG’s 7) regarding quality education.