On Friday, 25 October 2024, UNPAR had the opportunity to host the Welcoming Briefing for the IISMA 2024 awardees in the Czech Republic (Czechia) that was held online through Zoom. A total of 80 awardees are currently embarking on their IISMA exchange program at two universities in Czechia: Charles University and Palacký University Olomouc. The Welcoming Briefing also invited the Indonesian Embassy in Prague as part of the symbolic ceremonial event to handover the responsibility for the IISMA 2024 awardees to the embassy.
Moderating and becoming the MC for the event was Annisa Paramita Wiharani, the International Affairs Manager of UNPAR. The Welcoming Briefing had opening remarks from Prof. Dr. Ir. Sri Suning Kusumawardani, S.T., M.T. as Director of Learning and Student Affairs (Direktur Pembelajaran dan Kemahasiswaan) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology; Dr. Rachmat A. Sriwijaya as Chair of the IISMA program; and Ir. Catharina Badra Nawangpalupi, Ph.D. as Vice Rector for Cooperation, Alumni, Innovation, and Business of UNPAR. A representative from the Embassy’s Social and Culture Division, Yuni Rizalina, became the main speaker for the information session.
The Welcoming Briefing was held a month after their departure to Czechia and aimed to equip the IISMA 2024 awardees with the knowledge they need as they continue to live and study there for the semester. As representatives of the Indonesian youth abroad, it is important that the IISMA awardees can maintain a good image as Indonesian citizens. The session provided essential information on living abroad, such as: lapor diri and communication mechanisms with the embassy, student life in Czechia, current social and cultural conditions, along with exchange rates and prices of staple foods in Czechia that they should be aware of.
We are also fortunate to have one of our UNPAR students, Jonathan Kay Christian from International Relations 2021, attending the Welcoming Briefing as an IISMA 2024 awardee. At the moment, Jonathan is pursuing a semester in Prague at Charles University.
