2 Students of UIN Sunan Kalijaga Follow Learning Activity at the Thailand University (SAVIOR II Program)

Selected as SAVIOR delegations (Student's Academic Visit to Foreign Countries), Millati Pratiwi, an Informatics Engineering student and Safitri Anggita Tunjung Sari, a Biology student from UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, left for Hat Yai Thailand to participate in academic activities at Prince of Songkla University (PSU) from 11 November to 19 November 2019.

SAVIOR is a program that gives opportunities to UIN Sunan Kalijaga students who meet the requirements to be able to feel the atmosphere of studying at one of the university partners of UIN Sunan Kalijaga abroad. This program was initiated by CDCIA (Center for Developing Cooperation and International Affairs). Through SAVIOR, students are expected to attend lectures both in class and in the laboratory, access the library, consult with lecturers at the destination university and take part in other academic activities.

Safitri and Millati arrived at Prince of Songkla University on Monday, November 11, 2019. They were warmly welcomed by staff from the International Office and Dean of the Faculty of Science of Prince of Songkla University. After the reception, they were accompanied by 2 PSU students to walk around the campus. After that, Safitri and Millati were guided to meet lecturers according to the study program taken by Safitri and Millati, namely Biology and Informations and Communications Technology. Safitri attended Plant Ecology lecture in class and attended discussions, practices, and sharing about Animal, Molecular Plant, and Plant Tissue Culture in the laboratory. Meanwhile, Millati joined Research and Methodology, Databases, and Networking class, plus Object-oriented programming in the laboratory. In addition, she also attended the seminar. While at PSUSafitri and Millati received good guidance from the lecturer in charge. Safitri was guided by Ajarn Krittika in the Biology Department, and Millati was guided by Ajarn Jarutas in the Information Communication and Technology Department.

Lecture activities are conducted in two languages, English and Thai so that international students have no difficulty in understanding material. Not only participating in learning in-class learning, Safitri and Millati also get the opportunity to enjoy a variety of interesting things in Thailand. "We were lucky because we came on the same day as the Loy Krathong Festival. We can see the candles and flower arrangements that are floated on the river or pond beautifully, "they said. This festival is held once a year by Buddhists in honor of the spirits of the river and thanks to the god of water for rain.

Safitri and Millati were also invited to visit the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Natural History museum and PSU Hall of History which are still in the Prince of Songkla University. They also visited Samila Beach and Tang Kuan Hilltop in Songkla; and Kim Yong Market, ASEAN Market and Greenway Market in Hat Yai.

Safitri and Millati said they felt very satisfied succeeding in the lessons while in Thailand. They get new friends, knowledge, and experiences. They will share these new things with family and friends in Indonesia.