Two Japanese students, Satsuki Imakita and Haruka Akiyama, were accompanied by the Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG) Unhas, drg. Muhammad Ruslin, M. Kes., Ph. D., Sp. BM (K) together with the Director of the Partnership, Muhammad Iqbal Djawad, Ph.D and several FKG lecturers and students met the Rector of Hasanuddin University, Prof. Dr. Dwia Aries Tina Pulubuhu, MA.
The visit of two Japanese students who participated in the Odapus program took place at the Rector's Room, Lt. 8 Unhas Rectorate Building, Tamalanrea Campus, Makassar, Friday (04/10).
Odapus (Okayama University Dental School Short Term Study Abroad Program For Undergraduate Students) is a student and staff exchange cooperation program conducted by the Faculty of Dentistry of Universitas Hasanuddin and Okayama University, Japan. The purpose of this program is to provide insight and experience and a new learning atmosphere related to the field of dentistry.
During the visit, Prof. Dwia welcomed two Japanese students who would take part in the academic atmosphere at Universitas Hasanuddin, especially at the Faculty of Dentistry. She hoped that the presence of Japanese students would provide a special color in the lecture process at the Faculty of Dentistry.
"The presence of foreign students is not a new thing for Unhas. But we feel that it is still lacking because, in this era, the learning process through the exchange of students and academic staff is a necessity. I hope that the presence of these two students can be an inspiration for other faculties to carry out similar programs," said Prof. Dwia.
The Dean of FKG Unhas, Muhammad Ruslin, explained that the Odapus collaboration program conducted with Okayama University has been ongoing since 2013 through the initiation of one of the FKG Unhas staff who was then studying in Japan.
"Programs like this Students Exchange and Exchange Staff have reached the 8th batch. This month students from Japan have arrived in Unhas and in January we will send students to Japan. We will elaborate on this program by adding the quota. Because, for the time being, the Japanese limited this program only for two people. So, we will try to negotiate so that the quota can be increased," explained Dr. Ruslin.
The FKG Dean added that the Japanese delegation of the Odapus program will conduct several activities while in Unhas. Both the academic activities and the introduction of the Unhas environment in particular and Makassar in general.
"This Odapus program will be the first step for our sit-in process program. We have an international class. This will be developed by us. So, we will place them as inbound students in the International class to share their knowledge and experiences with international class students. They also later will be involved in several activities carried out by FKG, "added Dr. Ruslin.
As scheduled, Japanese delegation students who took part in the Odapus program at Unhas have been going on since October 1st and will end on November 1st. Then for Unhas students who will take part in this program, they will depart in early January. (*)
Ishaq Rahman
Head of sub-directorate of Public Relation and Information
Directorate of Communication Hasanuddin University
Translator: Kumara Tungga Dewa
Translation Editor: Karmila Mokoginta
