Students and faculty members from the School of Engineering of the University of San Carlos returned on November 17, 2018 from their eight-day Culture Immersion Program in Jember, Indonesia (see related story here).
This culture immersion program initiated by Universitas Jember (UNeJ) with the University of San Carlos (USC) has been ongoing since 2014. The program is covered by a memorandum of agreement, which also includes research collaborations, faculty exchange program, conferences and workshops.
The immersion program allowed faculty members and students to interact with people, learn their language (Bahasa Indonesia), experience Javanese and Madurese way of life playing traditional musical instruments (gamelan) and games (balap kelereng, lomba makan kerupuk), and enjoy traditional food, including sambal,kerupuk, tumpeng, satay, nasigoring,bakso, and soto.
Students also attended lectures in Universitas Jember, including one in Indonesian culture and history, as well as lectures on Materials Engineering and Artificial Intelligence for Robots. They also had the opportunity to witness the UNeJ’s 54thfounding anniversary, Dies Natalis.
More memorable events happened outside the lecture rooms as the participants toured Jember and nearby towns to learn how to make batik,visited the Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute (ICCRI), Papuma Beach,Pakusari and Sukowono villages, and Sampean Baru Dam. Pakusari is a village within a landfill developed and managed by some of the faculty members of UNeJFakultas Teknik(School of Engineering) in partnership with Jember’s local government. A concerted effort was spent to transform the dumpsite into a place of fun and relaxation. In particular, faculty members from the Department of Chemical Engineering had an active involvement in converting waste into renewable energy.
The host university, led by their rector Dr. Moh. Hasan, held a farewell party to culminate the eight-day culture immersion program. Participants were greeted with a traditional dance, Reog Panorogowhile attendees wore traditional costumes and USC participants wore barong tagalogand camisa chinofor men and Filipiniana and baro’tsayafor women. Engr. James Labrado sang Ako ay Pilipino, while other Carolinians performed a folk dance to the tune of Leron-Leron Sintaand another dance to the tune of Pinoy Ako by Orange and Lemons.
Tags: Engineering, International Linkage