Students of Agrotechnology from Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) represented Indonesia in Sakura Science Exchange Program that was hosted in Japan from 1-7 August 2019. The Sakura Science Exchange Program is a summer school event hosted for the first time by Yamagata University in cooperation with Japan Science and Technology Agency.

Sakura Science Exchange Program is the result of cooperation between Indonesia and Japan. Indonesia was represented by students of UMY, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), and Universitas Padjajaran (UNPAD). Agrotechnology students of UMY that participated in this event are Maki Lukmanul Hakim (2016), Desri Wulandari (2016), Cecep Supriadi (2017), Rivaldy Tri Putra (2017), and Aqilah Husna Lasahido (2018). They were accompanied by an assistant lecturer of the agrotechnology program Choiril Muchtar, S.P and agrotechnology lecturer, Dina Wahyu Trisnawati, S.P., M.Agr., Ph.D.

When interviewed on Wednesday (14/8), Desri Wulandari explained that Sakura Science Exchange Program contains several activities that would educate the students in the subject of agriculture. The activities include a public lecture and field trips to agricultural fields in Japan. “In addition to increasing our skills and knowledge of agriculture, Sakura Science Exchange Program also hosted a study on Japanese culture, including visits to historical sites and living with the locals,” she added.

In addition, Desri also admitted that the Sakura Science Exchange Program opened the students’ minds and views towards the development of Japanese agrotechnology. “After the activity, we feel like we benefited from something other than knowledge in Japan. We gained access to a recommendation for future studies and research in Japan,” She admitted. (sofia)