In autumn 2023, 39 Indonesian students from 19 universities will study at SZTE. The students are funded by the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards. According to surveys measuring the effectiveness of the programme, 100% of participating students would recommend the University of Szeged to their peers.
The Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards - IISMA provides Indonesian students with the opportunity to spend a semester at some of the world's most prestigious universities. This is the third time that the Indonesian government has announced the merit-based scholarship programme. The University of Szeged is the only Hungarian higher education institution that has received the support of the Indonesian government to be selected as the study abroad destination for IISMA students. 39 Indonesian students from 19 universities will come to SZTE in the first semester of the academic year 2023/2024. All 19 institutions are potential cooperation partners of the University. Globally, the University of Szeged is among the top 10 universities in terms of student popularity, in the same league with institutions such as the University of Warsaw in Poland and Leiden University in the Netherlands.
While only four faculties were involved in hosting students when the programme was launched in 2021, this year the number has increased to eight. This means that the Indonesian awardees will be able to take courses offered by the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Agriculture, the Juhász Gyula Faculty of Education, the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Faculty of Engineering and the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences as a substitute for the compulsory elective courses offered in their home countries.
Over the past three years, more than 100 students have studied at the University of Szeged as part of the IISMA programme. In addition to learning, they also promote their own culture, thus strengthening the international atmosphere. Surveys measuring the effectiveness of the programme are also a source of pride, with 100% of IISMA students who complete the questionnaire recommending the University of Szeged to their peers. The partnership between the university and Indonesia was also recognised by Ifan Mahdiyat Sofiana, Cultural Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in Budapest, who presented IISMA with a special plaque.
The slogan of the Excellence Programme is "Be Bold to go Abroad". The aim of the programme is to encourage as many Indonesian students as possible to study in a multicultural environment. Through international mobility, participants can gain professional and multicultural skills at some of the world's top universities. This will enhance their employability.
Our IISMA students are like leaven in bread because they are global citizens, they are smart and they have excellent English skills. Through their traditional cultural programmes, such as Batik Day, Heroes Day and Christmas Afternoon, they can bring their home to the University of Szeged and introduce their country and culture, said Dr. Edit Bundzsákné Tanács, Head of the International Mobility Centre of the Directorate for International Affairs and Public Relations.
The IISMA scholarship programme, funded by the Indonesian government, is an excellent example of the short courses that are increasingly in demand on the international higher education market, as the intercultural environment contributes to internationalisation and the presence of foreign students adds colour to the already strong international student life of the city.
Moreover, the participation of the University of Szeged in the Excellence Scholarship Programme contributes to the deepening of cooperation with Indonesian universities and increases the international recognition of the University.
Ádám Kovács-Jerney
Cover picture: Joy unleashed on Heroes' Day Photo by Ádám Kovács-Jerney
