Three students of the Faculty of Geography UGM participated in the Twin College Envoys (TWINCLE) Program which was held for 12 days from February 8th – 20th at the Faculty of Education, Chiba University, Japan. This program is a short course held by Chiba University in collaboration with several universities in Southeast Asia, include Universitas Gadjah Mada through the Faculty of Geography UGM. Three students participated were Kirana Putri Prastika (Geography and Environmental Sciences 2015), Intan Lestari (Cartography and Remote Sensing 2015), and Haddad Al Rasyid Sukawan (Regional Development 2016).
Activities for 12 days were carried out in various forms. At the beginning of the activity, all participants were invited to learn more about Japan history and its reform through a visit to the Sakura National Museum and tried to write Japanese letters using traditional media. Participants were also invited to visit educational institutions to observe and dialogue directly with students about the education system in Japan. In addition to outdoor activities, TWINCLE participants conducted experiments in the form of SDS-Page observations, Polymerase Chain Reaction, and Chromosomes which are carried out directly in the laboratory with direct guidance by Professors at Chiba University. At the end of the TWINCLE activity, Japanese high school participants and TWINCLE students presented a scientific research poster in an international research session. Participants also conducted a focus group discussion on microplastic issues which were poured into posters containing ideas and innovations in overcoming them.
TWINCLE Program, which has been held since 2012, is one of the activities for sharing knowledge between Japan and Southeast Asia through cultural activities and research. This activity was attended by students from Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Philippines who would later sharing about the conditions of education and culture of each country. TWINCLE Program will also send Japan students to study directly at several ASEAN universities to experience first hand the atmosphere of ASEAN education and culture.