VMU cooperates with Indonesian mobility programme

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International students from Indonesia at VMU

Starting in 2021, Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) has entered into a very important cooperation with the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) programme. In 2023, IISMA had 67 partners in 25 countries with 1150 awardees. VMU is the only university in Lithuania that has entered this unique cooperation framework. IISMA is a scholarship scheme initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia to fund Indonesian students for a one-semester mobility programme at top universities and reputable industries overseas. IISMA aims to expose Indonesian students to international academic and cultural diversity by offering two schemes for undergraduate and vocational students.

In 2021 and 2022, VMU hosted 13 students in total, and in 2023, it accepted as many as 49 applicants, making it the largest IISMA group in Europe. With regard to studies, the students from Indonesia were mostly interested in studying entrepreneurship, leadership, social inequality and exclusion, as well as learning more about popular culture and creativity.

According to VMU teacher Assoc. Prof. Jaq Greenspon, who had a number of Indonesian students in his two courses (Media and Popular Culture, Creative and Feature Writing), “nothing prepares you for a group of enthusiastic, smiling faces, all eager to learn.” The teacher shared his best impressions about the students’ sincere engagement in the process of mutual learning.

“Over the course of the semester, these students proved to be curious and insightful, offering up their unique perspectives to complement whatever discussions we were having. In my creative non-fiction class, they told stories from their home countries, showing a great vulnerability in sharing triumphs and tragedies, relating how their personal experiences and cultures have impacted their lives and how the experience of being selected to come to Lithuania (Not to mention the Lithuanian experience itself) would surely have a lasting effect.”

Another teacher, Assoc. Prof. Jūratė Imbrasaitė, has also emphasised the intense competition to become an IISMA awardee, so only the best students could be selected. “It was obvious that the best students came,” noted Ibrasaitė. “The students attended almost all the lectures, completed all the homework assignments to a high standard, actively participated in the discussions, and shared their insights into economic, social, and cultural processes in Indonesia and Lithuania. They were highly motivated, interested in the material they were studying, and actively participated.”

According to Imbrasaitė, “with their goodwill, enthusiasm, motivation, admiration for studies at VMU and Lithuania in general, the Indonesian students had a positive impact on the other students in the course.” Both teachers acknowledged that by having IISMA awardees in their classes, they learned a lot about Indonesia, its society, and culture. Indonesian students were equally impressed by the studies and teachers, with a number of students expressing their wish to return to VMU for their Master’s studies.

Local encounters at Lithuanian schools produced an array of positive impressions

IISMA programme awardees not only studied selected courses but also got involved in various volunteering activities and visited general education schools, where they acted as the best ambassadors of Indonesia, promoting its culture and bringing both cultures together. From October 2023 to January 2024, IISMA programme awardees visited four schools: Jonas Jablonskis Gymnasium, Gilė Kindergarten and Primary School, Jurgis Dobkevičius Progymnasium, and Kaunas International Gymnasium. There, the students met schoolchildren of different ages (from elementary to high school) and delivered interactive presentations about Indonesia, its culture, and traditions.

When asked about their impressions of Lithuanian schools, IISMA awardees expressed their fascination with how active and engaged schoolchildren were in their classes. The schoolchildren were intelligent, respectful, and polite, interested in learning about the foreign culture, asking questions and giving positive feedback. After visiting the Akademija School-Kindergarten Gilė, Anastasia Sekar said she “had the best time! It was the most memorable experience in Lithuania.” Getting to know and meet such enthusiastic and fun children was a heart-warming experience not only for her. Indonesian students felt genuinely welcome and, in the words of Josephine Angie Santoso, were surprised by the attention that Asian cultures receive in different schools.

One of the IISMA awardees, Sanny Aftaluna Ziemann, shared his insights about the impressive school facilities for craft and engineering. Elisha Martha Christabella, who also visited Jurgis Dobkevicius Progymnasium, was impressed with the aircraft class: “I was really impressed that schoolchildren learn to craft an aeroplane in primary school!” Another Indonesian student, Safira Triandharini, was “mesmerised with the education system in Lithuania where people with disabilities can attend the same class.” The practical implementation of inclusive policies in Lithuanian schools made an impression on many Indonesian visitors.

Mutual learning experience that fosters intercultural awareness and openness

When asked about the benefits of such school visits, Indonesian students highlighted the mutual learning experience. According to an IISMA awardee Ahmad Rafi Agus Salim, such exposure to cultural differences and similarities not only expands our knowledge but also teaches everyone involved intercultural sensitivity.

As Hizkia Pandya Bagaswara Ardhya indicated, while students get to practice their public speaking and presentation skills by sharing many facts and examples about Indonesia, they also get a glimpse into daily school life in Lithuania. According to Muhammad Farhan Ghazy, students learn not only about advanced facilities and the educational system in Lithuania but also about cultural differences and the creation of a respectful atmosphere between teachers and children. As Safira Triandharini also pointed out after the visit, it can be a formative experience in choosing one’s future career and an inspiration to pay more attention to the topics of diversity and inclusion.

In an interconnected world, the significance of embracing cultural diversity and fostering intercultural awareness cannot be overstated. Vytautas Magnus University stands at the forefront of this transformative journey through its robust internationalisation initiatives, particularly the study abroad programmes. VMU’s commitment to internationalisation extends beyond academic pursuits. It is a commitment to shaping a society that thrives on openness to diversity by attending to all members of our society, even the smallest ones.

Crucially, VMU’s initiatives in internationalisation play a pivotal role in dismantling cultural barriers. As students interact with peers and local communities, they emerge as ambassadors of cultural exchange, fostering an environment where diversity is not just acknowledged but celebrated. This, in turn, aids in the creation of a more open and inclusive society, where differences are not merely tolerated but embraced and celebrated.