In an effort to promote the internationalization of the University and strengthen its network of cooperation with various partners, UPNVJ organized a series of visits with 6 students from Ablai Khan University, Kazakhstan, and 2 students from Walailak University, Thailand, to Bandung from Thursday, March 2nd to Friday, March 3rd, 2023. They visited Universitas Padjajaran (UNPAD), Universitas Pasundan (UNPAS), the Bandung City Hall, and the Asian-African Conference Museum (MKAA). These activities were part of a tripartite effort to implement UPNVJ’s internationalization program through an exchange program with foreign students.

As the first part of the visit series on the first day, UPNVJ visited UNPAD to conduct a cross-cultural dialogue between exchange students from UPNVJ and the UNPAD International Office. The delegation was welcomed by the UNPAD International Office. During this occasion, presentations were given on the institutional structure and implementation of UNPAD’s collaborative programs supporting internationalization. Additionally, exchange students from Ablai Khan University and Walailak University presented about the culture and education systems in Kazakhstan and Thailand.

Next, on the first day’s second agenda, the UPNVJ delegation and exchange students visited UNPAS at the Jl. Dr. Setiabudi campus. During the visit, a cross-cultural dialogue was held between the exchange students from UPNVJ and the UNPAS cultural community. Activities included presentations from UNPAD postgraduate students on Indonesian Indigenous Heritage and presentations by exchange students from Ablai Khan University and Walailak University. The highlight of the event was a session of playing angklung with the Pasundan angklung community. Prof. Dr. H. Bambang Heru Purwanto, M.S., Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at UNPAS, expressed his appreciation for the visit from UPNVJ and the foreign exchange students. He hoped that this activity would serve to strengthen the network between UPNVJ and UNPAS, as well as with international partners through cultural exchange.

On the second day of the visit, UPNVJ first visited the Bandung City Hall for a Courtesy Call with the cooperation and tourism departments of Bandung City. The hosts included Mrs. Eva Nur Desiyanti, MM., Sub-Coordinator for Foreign Cooperation Facilitation at the Bandung City Secretariat; Mrs. Yayah Sumiati, S.Ip., M.Si., Head of the Tourism Division of the Bandung City Culture and Tourism Office; Mr. Gusgus Sepran Bahtiar, Tourism Information Manager of the Marketing Division of the Bandung City Culture and Tourism Office; and Mr. Aji and Mrs. Risky as translators from the Bandung City Hall.

During the visit to the Bandung City Hall, information was provided on Bandung’s MSMEs, which aim to support the economy and have been an effort towards economic recovery post-Covid-19. In terms of city development management, Bandung upholds the use of a smart city system with the theme of smart living for its residents. The city’s sister city cooperation programs with various cities in several other countries were also explained. Countries that have established cooperation with Bandung include Japan, China, the United States, the Philippines, Germany, Belgium, Australia, and others.

The highlight of the second day was the visit to MKAA, where the UPNVJ delegation and exchange students conducted a cross-cultural dialogue with MKAA representatives and students from Bandung universities such as Universitas Jenderal Ahmad Yani (UNJANI), Universitas Komputer Indonesia (UNIKOM), and Universitas Langlangbuana (UNLA). The event began with a presentation on the history of the KAA Museum by Mrs. Dahlia Kusuma Dewi, S.Sos., MIA., Head of MKAA. The event also featured a presentation on the education system and culture in Indonesia by a speaker from UNJANI, as well as discussions on cultural differences in Kazakhstan and Thailand by the exchange students.