Universitas Internasional Batam (UIB) as universities and the academic community support and encourage the implementation of the Directorate General of Higher Education program of the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, one of which is Kampus Merdeka-Merdeka Belajar program. One of them is the Independent Student Exchange program which is one of the programs of the Kampus Merdeka-Merdeka Belajar policy which aims to expand or strengthen the academic potential of students, provide opportunities for students to explore and learn about the diversity of the archipelago, and build a sense of tolerance among students through spaces. an encounter that is formed through all the activities carried out during this student exchange program.
Through the independent student exchange program, UIB students get the opportunity to study at partner campuses. Registration for the Independent Student Exchange program was carried out on June 14 – June 27, 2021, and then extended until July 5, 2021. Registration is accessed through the Independent Student Exchange page https://kampusmerdeka.kemdikbud.go.id/. After registering and completing all the requirements, participants are then selected directly by the Ministry of Education and Culture. Participants who pass will be announced on July 29, 2021.
Based on the announcement on July 29, 2021, eight UIB students graduated as participants in the 1st Independent Student Exchange program. Eight students who passed the program were Annisa Salsabila from the English Education study program, Adam Mahendra, Elisa Nilla Sari Simanjuntak, Tina Sulistiawati, Felysha Putri Divia, and Risella Vini Anggresca from the Law Science study program, Rasyid Khoirul Mahfudin from the Civil Engineering study program and Al Ridho Wahyudi from the Architecture study program. Among UIB student universities conducting student exchanges are the Indonesian Educational University, Mulawarman University, Bandar Lampung University, etc. During student exchange activities, students do not only study subjects but also study the archipelago module. For now, the lecture system is carried out online.
The eight UIB students will later receive the learning of the subjects they choose from the receiving university during the period of the 1st Free Student Exchange. Students are expected to be able to realize the goals of the Independent Student Exchange program. Hopefully, more and more Universitas Internasional Batam students will contribute to the programs implemented based on the Kampus Merdeka-Merdeka Belajar policy, especially the Independent Student Exchange program for the next batch.
