UNS – Sherley Adalia, a student of the Undergraduate International Relations Study Program, Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, shared her story in joining a semester program at the University of Sussex, UK.
In an interview with the uns.ac.id team on Monday (19/12/2022), Sherley recounted that her opportunity to take courses at the University of Sussex was obtained through the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) 2022.
The IISMA is one of the eight flagship programs under the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) Program, initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) in collaboration with Educational Fund Management Institution (LPDP) Ministry of Finance Indonesia. IISMA aims to bring opportunities for students to take development programs in the best global universities.
“My reason to apply for IISMA is mainly because I was always interested in studying abroad, even since I was a little girl, but there are still some concerns remain. I consider IISMA as a trial for me to learn the gist of studying abroad as a student,” Sherley said.
Sherley also conveys that she loves learning and direct in-class study session becomes her energy resource. However, the transition from in-class learning to online classes due to the Covid-19 pandemic brought a challenge for her to maintain her persistence in studying.
“Motivated by this pandemic situation, I think IISMA can help me in recovering my already depleted passion for studying, at the same time filling my experience and focus, which was hampered by Covid-19,” she added.
For administrative purposes, Sherley admits that there were considerable documents to be prepared since these documents are required for the IISMA application. She also prepared for the Duolingo test, where she was sponsored by UNS International Partnership and Service UPT.
“I also prepared my essay quality well, a piece that needed a week for me to write, starting from the brainstorming process to completion. I also seek proofreading services from some people I trust. Other than an essay, I also prepared for the interview process and explored some probable questions,” Sherley explains.
Moreover, Sherley also said that there are some of her friends who also applied to the 2022 IISMA, thus, she was thrilled to support each other in the process. Even if the process is lengthy and exhausting, Sherley enjoys the IISMA application process since it helps her to understand herself better.
“Our struggle together becomes more meaningful. The only negative aspect is the extended anxiety during all the process because there are preparations to complete early. I need to prepare for either mental preparation, academic, or equipment,” she added.
Sherley hopes that after joining this IISMA program, her interest, curiosity, and passion for studying, especially in the development field, can be a favorable preparation for her future endeavor.
“Personally, I also hope that I can apply all knowledge and skills I gained at the University of Sussex continuously, both for myself and the community. I also hope that next year there will be more fellow UNS students who can pass the IISMA selection. At the same time, those who have joined the program previously can establish a noble vision to carry our critical thinking, ideas, and empathy,” said Sherley. Humas UNS
Reporter: Erliska Yuniar Purbayani
Editor: Dwi Hastuti