The Minister of Education and Culture, Nadiem Makarim, launched a Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka program specifically for third-semester students to enhance their learning experience outside the island where they live. The learning system in this program is carried out offline on the receiving campus and online on the sending campus.PMM provides cultural and artistic diversity experiences from the intended tertiary institution that become valuable for students, in addition to other benefits such as educational allowances, transportation, direct assistance, and other accommodations.
Two DEE FKIP UMS students took part in the MBKM-Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka program at different destination campuses. One of them is Fatimah Putri Sambada, class of 2019, which takes place at Nusa Cendana University in Kupang, NTT. She was motivated to participate in the MBKM-Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka program because she wanted to make connections from all over Indonesia and experience living and studying outside the area where he currently lives.
This student, fondly called Fatimah, explained that every weekend, she and her PMM friends carry out an activity called the Nusantara Module to visit tourist places, local inspirational figures, and other social activities to add information and experience for them.
“I am delighted because, apart from studying and meeting friends outside the area, I also meet and mingle with the local community. This experience has also made me realize how important it is to be open-minded and get to know people from different cultures and backgrounds. This experience has been key in developing my sense of appreciation for diversity. PMM was a memorable experience for me. Besides that, there are lots of benefits to be had. So, DEE friends, let’s prepare to join this program because it’s fascinating. You can study outside the island and explore many things that are useful for you. PMM 2, incredible!” she exclaimed.
Fatimah has shared that through these activities, she has gained an understanding of the culture and people of the local community, which she believes is necessary for her development as a student. This activity positively impacts the students who participate because they get lots of benefits and extraordinary experiences. PMM is in line with the slogan of the Independent Pertukaran Mahasiswa Merdeka Program, namely, Bertukar Sementara, Bermakna Selamanya.