On Thursday, February 22, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM WIB, the Bachelor Program in Japansese Language and Culture held an Educational Collaboration event with Ferris Women University (FWU) from Yokohama, Japan. This cultural exchange activity was attended by Dr. Sato Akira, who served as the accompanying lecturer, along with three students from FWU, as well as faculty and students from the Japanese Language and Culture Study Program. After a welcoming event led by Dr. Tatang Hariri, M.A., the head of the Bachelor Program in Japansese Language and Culture, the FWU lecturers and students entered the classroom to engage in discussions and exchange information with UGM students.
The collaborative activities were divided into two sessions. The first session involved first-year students, while the second session included third-year students. In both sessions, FWU students, alongside UGM students, were divided into three groups to discuss various topics using Japanese. In the first session, the discussion topic was the differences in student life between Indonesia and Japan, whereas in the second session with third-year students, they discussed culture and work systems in both countries. After the discussions, each group presented the key points or results of their discussions in Japanese.
For the academic community, understanding cultural differences in various aspects of life is deemed important. This is not only a means to enrich knowledge but also enhances students’ abilities to adapt to other cultures. It is hoped that this educational collaboration will develop critical thinking skills and encourage students to innovate based on the perspectives gained during group discussions. As stated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this collaboration can serve as a means to build quality education and establish a foundation for global partnerships in world development.
