Visiting a new place is a mean of broaden horizons, particularly for students. Staying in a new place to learn is valuable to gain various new experiences. Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) conceived significance of international diversity to be a global community. Thus, UMY always seeks to cooperate with many foreign institutions. The occasion was leveraged by 12 students of Department of Religious Education of Islam to have a student exchange at University of Malaya and International Islamic University Malayasia (IIUM).

Rector of UMY Dr. Ir. Gunawan Budiayanto, M.P. stated that students should utilize the opportunity. “Humans are given a lot of chances but always miss the occasions since they do not dare to take risks. This student exchange is an occasion for you to enhance your competences,” declared Rector of UMY at a pre-departure ceremony on Saturday (2/2) at Rector Lobby of A.R. Fachruddin A of UMY.

Gunawan advised that students do not feel awkward in social and academic interaction. “Indonesians are low profile, but it is often defined as awkwardness. Hence, during your student exchange, you have to be active in joining various activities to expand horizons and experiences,” he encouraged.

Meanwhile, Head of Department of Religious Education of Islam of UMY Sadam Fajar Shodiq, M.Pd.I. declared, “This is first a student exchange program with the IIUM. It obtains a great response. Two IIUM students will have a student exchange program at UMY for one semester commencing in February 2019. There is a transfer credit for the students so that they do not take similar subjects in the next semester.”