The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Indonesia (FMIPA UI), once again organized the International Student Mobility (ISM) program, which in its fourth year designated Japan as the destination country. The program, held from September 28 to October 5, 2025, was attended by 12 selected students, including, for the first time, participants from the Master’s (S2) level.
The student delegation came from various study programs at FMIPA UI and was supervised by the Student Affairs Manager, Prof. Dr. Dewi Susiloningtyas, S.Si., M.Si., and Tety Maryenti, M.Sc., Ph.D. Over the course of a week, participants took part in a series of academic and cultural visits to several institutions in Japan, including Waseda University, Tokyo Metropolitan University, the Indonesian School in Tokyo (SRIT), and discussion forums with the Indonesian Student Association (PPI) at Waseda University.
The delegation was officially sent off by the Acting Dean of FMIPA UI, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Budiawan, on September 26, 2025. He expressed hope that the participants would serve as academic ambassadors representing the university with distinction.
“We encourage students to use this international experience as a foundation for personal development and broader academic contributions,” he said.
Academic and Cultural Visits
The program began with a visit to the National Museum Tokyo and a tour of the historic areas surrounding the Imperial Palace. On the third day, the students had the opportunity to visit Waseda University to participate in activities including a campus tour, academic discussions, and visits to several research laboratories. In addition, they attended a guest lecture delivered by Prof. Aditya Wibawa Sakti on the topic “Introduction to Molecular Simulation Laboratory.”
The activities continued with a visit to Tokyo Metropolitan University, where the student delegation attended a conference titled “Building a Sustainable Future with STEM Innovation.” In this forum, the students presented their research findings to academics and researchers from various institutions and also participated in an awards session. The visit additionally included exploration of several interdisciplinary research laboratories, ranging from genetics to environmental geography.
The conference featured seven prominent panelists from Universitas Indonesia and Tokyo Metropolitan University, including Prof. Dr. Dewi Susiloningtyas, S.Si., M.Si., Tety Maryenti, M.Sc., Ph.D., Prof. Dr. Aya Takahashi, Prof. Dr. Yuko Ito, Prof. Dr. Masayuki Kawahigashi, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dahédrey Payandi-Rolland, and Prof. Dr. Takashi Okamoto.
The presence of these panelists enriched the scientific discussions at the conference and provided participants with new insights into the role of STEM innovation in sustainable development.
Education at SRIT and Meeting with PPI
On the fifth day, the FMIPA UI delegation visited the Indonesian School in Tokyo (SRIT) and conducted a community service program (Pengmas) attended by around 30 junior and senior high school students. The activity was presented as an interactive science education session themed “Smart and Accurate Energy and Laboratory Equipment.”
Through a picture-based quiz, the students were invited to learn about various types of power plants and laboratory equipment. They were divided into several groups and took turns answering questions to earn points. The atmosphere was competitive yet enjoyable throughout the activity. At the end of the session, the group with the highest score was announced as the winner and received prizes as a form of appreciation.
The activity coincided with National Batik Day, and the entire delegation wore batik attire as a form of cultural preservation and Indonesian cultural diplomacy abroad.
The following day, the delegation continued their agenda with a visit to the Indonesian Student Association (PPI) at Waseda University. In an open discussion, students from both institutions exchanged views on academic life, cultural adaptation, and the challenges of studying in Japan. The Chair of PPI Waseda, Jessie Felicia Siauw, welcomed the visit and expressed hope that collaboration among Indonesian students abroad would continue to grow.
As part of the knowledge exchange session, the FMIPA UI delegation also presented the topic “Financial Forecasting for Student Organization,” discussing the importance of financial planning within student organizations.
The series of activities concluded with a cultural visit to Kamakura, a historic city south of Tokyo known for its cultural sites and distinctive natural landscapes. This visit served as the closing event of the program, broadening students’ understanding of Japanese history and culture.
ISM Delegation and Background
The ISM 2025 delegation consisted of students from various levels and study programs at FMIPA UI. The participants were Alif Raya Zulkarnaen (BSc Geography), Arini Mayang Fauni (BSc Biology), Chiara Aishabyna Firasty (BSc Geography), Kayla Nadhira Wijaya (BSc Biology), Kitman Arianto (BSc Physics), Maria Andriana Nea Candra (BSc Geography), Muhammad Faizullah Ramadhan (BSc Geography), Muhammad Ridho Alfarabi (BSc Physics), Natalia Blessa Kanaya (BSc Geophysics), Salsabila Shafa (BSc Chemistry), Sri Azizah Rahmadani (BSc Statistics), and Arifah Dinda Lestari (MSc Biology), who was the first representative from the master’s level to participate in the program.
The International Student Mobility (ISM) program is an annual agenda of FMIPA UI that has been running since 2022. The program is designed to broaden students’ global perspectives through international experiences in both academic and cultural fields. Since its inception, ISM has taken student delegations to several partner countries, including Malaysia in 2022, Taiwan in 2023, Thailand and South Korea in 2024, and Japan in 2025. FMIPA UI aims for this program to continue developing as a strategic platform to equip students for increasingly dynamic and interconnected global challenges.
