Date: January 2, 2024
by Sr Zurratul Aina Mohd Zahidin, Sr Nur Mursyidah Abdul Hamid, Sr Amalia Kamaruddin, Sr Islamiah Tan, Sr Aida Juliana Mohamad AMyah, Br Muhammad Amin Ahmad Zaki, Sr Rozainee Abdullah, Sr Nur Ayliwati Ali & Sr Norsiah Abdullah
Location: Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Indonesia, Depok Campus, West Java, Jakarta Indonesia
From 7 until 13 May 2023, the Postgraduate Student Society Kuliyyah of Nursing (PGSS KON) from International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Kuantan organised an exciting Mobility Outbound Programme to Faculty of Nursing Universitas Indonesia (UI). The programme featured an active involvement of 10 dedicated postgraduate students, comprising of 6 master’s and 4 PhD candidates. The programme was also enriched by the presence and guidance of esteemed lecturers, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Azlina Bt. Daud, Deputy Dean of IIUM Kuantan Campus, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sanisah Binti Saidi, former Deputy Dean (Postgraduate and Responsible Research & Innovation) of KON, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Muzaitul Akma Mustapa Kamal Basha, the Postgraduate Coordinator of KON. This programme aimed to give students a fresh perspective on their academic journey, going beyond regular classrooms. It focused on developing personal and intellectual growth, encouraged research collaboration as well cross-cultural communication.
The journey from Kuantan to Jakarta is highly captivating as most of us are visiting Universitas Indonesia for the first time. We are elated and filled with joy to have such an opportunity as delegates from KON IIUM. Before we departed to UI, our former Deputy Dean of Postgraduate and Responsible Research & Innovation gives her briefings which include on the rules and regulations that need to be followed throughout the mobility outbound. She reminded us to always shows the good manner and attitude during the programme as well as actively participate in this programme to gain better knowledge and input from the UI.
In addition, our accompany lecturers also give the orientation and a little overview of UI as well as exposure of the cultures that was practiced by the university student in UI. This brief orientation would prevent us from getting culture shock since we were from different country. We also had an orientation between students such as meet and greet sessions to get to know each other better. The tentative of the program during mobility outbound was given early to us before departing to UI to make sure that we were fully prepared in term of time management and activities. We departed from IIUM Kuantan at 7am, heading to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and had our breakfast at R&R Genting Sempah. At 11.45am, we reached KLIA and boarded to Jakarta at 3.30pm.
We arrived Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 6.00pm and waited for transport to continue our journey to UI, Depok. Our first impression regarding UI was unique and prestige university that we had ever visited. From an enormous library to an aesthetically built buildings, it consists of various landscape that could never be seen in Malaysia. It is well facilitated and accommodating. We were welcomed with a warmth of smiles and great pleasure from the lecturers and students itself. Upon our arrival, a postgraduate student extended a friendly greeting, setting a positive tone for the entire experience. They are very humble despite the position and title that they’re carrying. Literally a good place to gain knowledge and experience.
On the first day of May 8, 2023, a public address was delivered by students hailing from the esteemed University of Indonesia. The public lecture was presented by two lecturers from the IIUM, notably Associate Prof. Dr. Sanisah Saidi, who discussed the topic of doing research connected to religion in healthcare settings, and Associate Prof. Dr. Azlina Daud, who focused on the principles of randomized controlled trials. Furthermore, with the process of acquainting ourselves, we engaged in the exchange of perspectives regarding past and ongoing research endeavors.
During the second day, we were escorted to the University of Indonesia Hospital to do a site visit. We were provided with pertinent details regarding the hospital and thereafter escorted on a tour of other units within the healthcare facility. The ward space is now occupied by a plethora of sophisticated technology, representing a novel addition to our knowledge base. The attire worn by nurses in the hospital consists of scrub suits. The utilisation of scrub suits significantly enhances the mobility and comfort of nurses throughout their professional duties.
During the afternoon, we were escorted to a health facility located in the city of Depok. The recent acquisition of knowledge reveals a profound reverence for the utilisation of herbs in culinary, beverage, and medicinal contexts within the healthcare setting. On the subsequent day, we were escorted to the library for a tour. The culture exhibited by the students at this institution is quite commendable. The environment has a tranquil ambiance, where individuals are seen holding books, indicative of their profound reverence for knowledge. The library space offers a high level of comfort, complemented by amenities such as a cafe for dining and refreshments, as well as a souvenir shop.
In an academic context, it is necessary to convey the initial findings of our research. This approach is implemented by the segregation of master’s and PhD students. In addition, our presentation was complemented by a presentation delivered by their students in support of the defense research proposal. The process of asking several questions enables us to acquire fresh insights and information. The academic benefits we obtained from the programme were remarkable. One notable aspect of our interaction was the campus tour, where we engaged with local students, fostering informal discussions about academic and cultural interests. A particularly memorable experience was when one student accompanied us on a tour outside the campus, creating a conducive environment for knowledge exchange. These conversations covered a range of topics, including postgraduate studies and healthcare systems, providing a platform for sharing experiences and gaining insights into each other’s educational backgrounds.
During visits to the clinic (PUSKESMAS), the presence of numerous postgraduate students from Universitas Indonesia allowed for more relaxed and open knowledge exchange. These encounters led to the exchange of contact information and social media connections, enhancing our understanding of each other. Sessions with the Student Representative Council further facilitated engaging discussions about society activities, fostering collaboration. Reflecting on our experiences, similarities between our nursing programs became evident, emphasizing a shared commitment to producing skilled healthcare professionals with a passion for nursing. However, differences emerged in program nuances influenced by unique cultural and healthcare contexts. Understanding these distinctions not only deepened our academic insights but also broadened our perspectives on nursing education and practice, leaving a lasting impact on my personal and academic growth.
There are few challenges we encountered throughout the programme. One of the issues includes the lodging offered was less conducive. As a consequence, the students had to search for and relocate to other accommodations multiple times throughout the programme due to a lack of available rooms during that period. Additionally, they had to split into two groups due to the lack of available lodging to accommodate every student at a single location. The lodging issues have a direct impact on transportation. The van driver is required to make multiple stops to collect up and drop off students at various locations, which impacts punctuality. Other than that, the time difference between Malaysia and Indonesia poses a challenge for students in adjusting and effectively managing their time, particularly during the initial stages. It also impacts the punctuality of the students throughout the program.
Overall, having a mobility program is one of the most memorable and precious experiences we have ever had. Learning about a new culture, being in a new environment and meeting new people while living and travelling in a different country has given us a more mature and a different way of seeing life. We are extremely grateful to be given the opportunity to be able to join this outbound program. In our opinion, it has always been a goal of us to be able to experience different foreign cultures throughout our academic life. Traveling is a rewarding experience that not only offers a change of scenery but also challenges and opportunities for personal growth.
This program is indeed a very good program to build an independent and outstanding student. This program should be done more often in the future as this can help our students to be more open-minded and confident to meet foreign people. Due to differences in learning cultures, we hope that we can learn understanding the method of online learning by other universities in the future. It will help us understand more about the world and think with different perspectives.
