My IISMA Experience By Carina Liow Kai Lin
On April 15 of 2023, I received the news that I was accepted as an Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) awardee to Monash University, Australia. Being one of Australia’s most prestigious universities as a member of the Group of Eight (Go8) – Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, I was thrilled and beyond grateful to be given the opportunity to be a full time student for one semester there. IISMA itself is a fully funded government scholarship program by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia. University students from all across Indonesia are able to study abroad for one semester at top universities. Aside from our studies while overseas, the awardees work individually and also collectively to share about Indonesian culture through hosting events such as the Independence Day celebration (HEROES Challenge) and community service (BATIK Challenge). It was truly a privilege to learn about other cultures from the diverse international community in Melbourne as well as share about my country as well.
During my one semester, I was enrolled in four units which were Business in Asia (ECX3550), Organisations and Society (MGX2021), Communication, Cultures and the Corporate World (ATS2199), as well as International Studies: Challenges of Globalisation (ATS1326). It was refreshing and eye opening to experience first hand the academic culture of Monash University.
Some key differences I had to adapt to were the standard of preparation students need to put in before each tutorial as well as the in-class discussions. For the units I took, all the lectures were recorded and available online and only the tutorials were held onsite. This gave me the flexibility to watch the lectures wherever and whenever and also enabled me to watch them at my own pace where I could supplement the lectures with the topic’s readings. In the first few weeks, I struggled slightly with the prescribed readings, which were hard to comprehend due to the level of English and philosophical content. With determination, I quickly got the hang of it and actually enjoyed the readings which were mostly academic journals. I am thankful that the lecturers have time available for any consultations needed and consistently gave very comprehensive feedback. The lecturers and tutors at Monash University successfully facilitated an environment where you never feel scared to speak your opinions and ask questions. The encouraged discussions with peers during tutorials taught me to have my own voice and express them properly. It was also extremely interesting and academically beneficial to hear what other students had to say and I enjoyed the healthy debates which followed. Other than the academic life, I had the chance to experience the Monash University dorm life.
From the day I arrived, the residential hall committee welcomed us with warm smiles and it felt instantly like home. During the two week orientation period, we were provided with warm meals and activities to get to know each other. Most of my friendships developed through this time as we did bowling, laser tag, karaoke nights, trampoline park jumping, indoor wall climbing, museum hunting, and many more trips together. Even after orientation, the hall committee hosted numerous events every month for residents to freely participate in. There is never a dull and lonely moment when living in a dorm filled with respectful, kind, and bright individuals.
As the semester break and end of semester holiday arrived, I was able to travel around the state of Victoria. I enjoyed exploring the natural wonders that Australia had to offer such as the Great Ocean Road, Grampians National Park, Wilsons Promontory Park, Yarra National Ranges Park, and the many waterfalls and beaches. These adventures definitely taught me about endurance and adaptability. Additionally, as a person who is utterly passionate about wildlife, it was a dream come through to encounter not only exotic birds but also kangaroos in the wild. On the topic of wildlife, I should mention that there was a curious possum that regularly visited my dorm window!
Looking back, little did I know that these 5 months abroad would be the best months of my life. Ultimately, I am grateful for the people I got to meet, the invaluable lessons learned and the moments of sheer awe I experienced. I have grown personally and as I return back to Indonesia, I intend to cherish and share the profound insights I have gained.
