Unika Atma Jaya Welcomes BUFS Students for Indonesian Language Program

1/9/2025 12:00:00 AM

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Jakarta, January 9, 2025 – Atma Jaya Catholic University of Indonesia (AJCUI) has officially commenced an Indonesian language program in collaboration with Busan University of Foreign Studies (BUFS). This initiative is tailored for BUFS students aiming to work with Korean companies operating in Indonesia. Dr. Yanti, Vice Rector for Innovation, Research, Cooperation, and Alumni at AJCUI, warmly greeted the participants, stating, "We warmly welcome your arrival. During this program, you will adapt to a new environment, learn the Indonesian language, and understand the local culture. We hope this experience becomes a valuable first step to support your future aspirations."

This program exemplifies the commitment of AJCUI and BUFS to enhance bilateral relations between Indonesia and South Korea in education and workforce development. The collaboration has been formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two institutions. The inaugural batch, consisting of 10 selected BUFS students, will engage in a month-long intensive Indonesian language course at Unika Atma Jaya's Language Teaching Center in Jakarta. Under the guidance of professional instructors, these students are expected to proficiently acquire the Indonesian language and gain insights into the local culture, equipping them for future endeavors. Through this initiative, it is anticipated that educational and cultural cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea will be further strengthened, providing BUFS students with broader opportunities to contribute to the global workforce.

BUFS has long recognized the importance of Indonesian language education, having offered Indonesian studies as part of its curriculum since 1995. As one of the few Korean universities with a dedicated Department of Malay-Indonesian Studies, BUFS has played a pivotal role in fostering linguistic and cultural exchange between South Korea and Indonesia. Many of its graduates have pursued careers in diplomatic missions, multinational corporations, and trade sectors that require strong Indonesian language proficiency. Through the program at Unika Atma Jaya, students will strengthen their basic Indonesian communication skills, with a focus on daily conversation, workplace communication, and cultural nuances. These skills will be instrumental in their activities at AJCUI, allowing them to engage more effectively with local students, navigate daily interactions in Jakarta, and gain firsthand experience of Indonesian society.

The BUFS students’ one month of activities in AJCUI aren’t all about studying in class like typical students. Between studying Indonesia language and playing games introducing about culture and Indonesia, they also learn about interviews and making Curriculum Vitae (CV) with the student buddies and International Office of AJCUI. They also practiced the to interview local people in Jakarta after trying TransJakarta for the first time. Blending their basic understanding of Indonesia, the BUFS students also learn the new Indonesian words, both formals and informals, through many activities such as watching Indonesia’s film “Agak Lain” and also translating song from English to Indonesia. Around the final days in AJCUI, they also try the cultural clothes of Indonesia. They are really happy with the experiences they got after weeks in Indonesia, and some of them would love to return to Indonesia in the future. (RBA)