Antalya. A total of 5 Malang State University (UM) students managed to get scholarships to study for 1 semester in Turkey. This scholarship is named Mevlana Exchange Program funded by the Turkish Council of Higher Education (YOK) for students and academic staff or Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) that have signed the Mevlana Protocol.

UM has collaborated with Mevlana since 2015 and this has entered its 3rd year. In 2015, UM signed the Mevlana Protocol with Akdeniz University, Turkey. Then in 2017 UM received an invitation to collaborate in the same program by Turkey, Cankiri Karatekin University.

Activities Mevlana Exchange Program aims to exchange students for credit transfer and also learn about the culture that is there. UM students who come from the Department of Electrical Engineering consist of Grace Angeline, Misbahul Munir, Regina Aldama Aurelia, Rifqi Fadillah, and Slametian Dewa Tegar Perkasa. They study in Turkey for one full semester viz Fall semester (September 25 - February 20).

Misbahul Munir, an Electrical Engineering student, Class of 2017, shared his impressions and messages during this program.

"It was extraordinary when it was first declared to have passed this scholarship. We can experience a different culture and education system. During this activity we tried to open up our mindset to be open. The equipment there also really supports our practicum until I wanted to survive because I was attracted to the existing facilities, "he said.

"We studied in Turkey for 1 full semester or rather Fall Semester. Same as college in general but with different people and different demands. Of course we get an invaluable experience. We shared knowledge and education system between Indonesia and Turkey there. To the extent that we can't wait to share our knowledge with friends here who haven't had the opportunity to go there, "he said.

Apart from learning about lectures there, UM students also had the opportunity to visit several historical places there such as Hagia Sofia, Sultan Ahmed Mosque, Topkapi Palace, Mevlana Museum etc.

Reporter: Nuri Riskian - UM Public Relations Internship