A total of 83 (eighty-three) students attended the pre-departure event on July 14, 2023, in the Main Meeting Room of Dean Building, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Diponegoro University (Undip). The student release event is a pre-departure ceremony to release FEB Undip students who will participate in various international exposure programs, including obtaining a dual degree from partner universities and CTS (Credit Transfer System). Double degrees are given to students who study at least two semesters at partner universities abroad, and single degrees to students who study at partner universities for less than two semesters. The pre-departure ceremony was led by the Dean of FEB Undip, Prof. Suharnomo S.E., M.Si., and accompanied by the International Office Coordinator of FEB Undip, Afina Hasya, S.T., M.M., heads of departments, leaders of study programs, parents and students who will take part in the Credit Transfer System (CTS) and Double Degrees programs.
The departing students will take part in international programs at world-renowned universities, with 25 students to Saxion University in the Netherlands; 6 students to Vrije University in the Netherlands; 2 students to Montpelier Business School in France; 1 student to SKEMA Business School in France; 1 student to Leeds University UK; 1 student to University College London UK; 1 student to FHNW Switzerland; 2 students to Curtin University in Australia; 9 students to Korea University; 1 student to NUU Taiwan; 2 students to Asia University Taiwan; 1 student to Fordham University in the United States; 16 students to Universiti Malaya Malaysia; and 2 students to Monash University.
In addition, 10 students can study abroad for free because they won competitive scholarships from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia through the IISMA Program (Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards) and IISMA Co-Funding. The Ministry of Education and Culture scholarship scheme funds Indonesian students to gain study experience at leading universities abroad. These scholarship recipients with brilliant achievements will attend various universities, including Birmingham University, Universiti of Malaya, York University, Hanyang University, Lancaster University, and Universiti Sains Malaysia.
On this occasion, Prof. Suharnomo, Dean of FEB Undip, expressed his joy at the brilliant achievements of the departing students. Suharnomo said these students were extraordinary individuals with outstanding academic achievements, excellent English skills, and a strong mentality. “We believe the international learning experience will make them potentially become future leaders in their respective fields.” The Dean of FEB Undip, who was just elected as Undip Rector for the 2024 – 2029 term, also stressed the importance of adaptability abroad so that studies run smoothly and do not experience cultural shock. Hopefully, a golden opportunity to study overseas would increase networking with students from other parts of the world.
Meanwhile, Afina Hasya, Coordinator of the International Office, provided insight into the importance of fulfilling administration at both partner universities and at Diponegoro University and, as soon as possible, contact the International Office if there are problems encountered in other countries and the importance of always complying with the rules of life in other countries which may be different from Indonesia.
The pre-departure event also presented Benz Arya, an alumnus of the previous year’s IUP program who had graduated from Undip and Saxion University. Benz, an alumnus who owns Minum and Warung Korea outlets, shared his experience while studying in the Netherlands and emphasized the need for students to gather with other Indonesian students and mingle with students from various countries. “Don’t be passive; you don’t need to bring your shyness into the classes there. The lecturers in the Netherlands are very open to discussion, make the most of it!” he said.
This Pre-Departure event is a routine event for FEB Undip to let students gain international experience. FEB Undip is known to have an excellent reputation for outbound students and inbound international students. Thus it has superior world rankings, including the Times Higher Education version and the QS World University ranking by Subject, Business, and Management. FEB Undip also has an international standard laboratory, the Bloomberg Financial Market Laboratory from New York, the only finance laboratory on the Indonesian campus.
