BukSU Signs MOU for Nursing Student Exchange with Indonesian Universities

Bukidnon State University (BukSU) established a Short-Term Student Exchange Program for nursing students through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with Indonesia’s Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) and Universitas Muhammadiyah Kalimantan Timur (UMKT) during the International Academic and Partnership Visit held on June 29-30 at the BukSU main campus.

The program allows nursing students from BukSU, UMY and UMKT to participate in virtual or in-person academic exchanges lasting at least five days but not more than six months. It also provides opportunities to develop global competencies, gain cross-cultural experiences and support academic collaboration.

“When institutions care enough to learn from one another, to share resources, and to pursue common goals, extraordinary things become possible,” said Dr. Joy M. Mirasol, BukSU president.

BukSU Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Hazel Jean M. Abejuela said the visit promoted professional competencies and intercultural understanding among students and faculty while advancing the university’s internationalization efforts.

“This International Academic and Partnership Visit reaffirms our common commitment to the ASEAN values of partnership, mutual respect, and collective progress,” Abejuela said.

The MOU identifies four objectives for the program: facilitating the exchange of knowledge, skills and experience among students from BukSU, UMY and UMKT; providing opportunities for cross-cultural learning and academic enrichment; developing global competencies through exposure to different educational environments; and promoting cultural understanding and mutual respect.

Under the MOU, BukSU, UMY and UMKT will alternate their roles as the sending and host universities.

Representing UMY, Dr. Fitri Arofiati, Director of Quality Assurance of the Faculty of Health Sciences, said the agreements should be followed by academic exchange, research and community engagement initiatives.

“The agreement means that we will do something. We have to do something,” Arofiati said.

“We strongly hope that the signing of this agreement will be followed by meaningful collaboration and joint activities,” said UMKT Faculty of Nursing Dean Dr. Tri Wahyuni.

In addition to the signing ceremonies, the two-day visit included academic discussions and faculty presentations.

The visit opened with an academic meeting and curriculum review involving faculty representatives from BukSU, UMY and UMKT. Discussions covered nursing curricula and opportunities for academic collaboration. The program also featured an academic lecture series delivered by visiting faculty members from UMY and UMKT. Presentations covered community peer groups in identifying noncommunicable.  (Cziaralyn D. Fernandez/ BukSU IU Intern)