Waterloo welcomes Indonesian scholarship students to campus
Thursday, November 24, 2022
The University of Waterloo welcomes the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) 2022 recipients to campus. It is the second successful year of this student mobility program and with it brings 15 talented Indonesian students to our campus community.
The IISMA program provides top senior undergraduate students from various Indonesian universities the opportunity to spend one term at a highly reputable partner university overseas with the intention of broadening their experience both culturally and academically. Waterloo is honoured to be one of only three Canadian universities selected to be part of this student mobility initiative by the Government of the Republic of Indonesia.
As part of Waterloo’s welcome, the Student Success Office (SSO) prepared students for the upcoming exchange through a series of informational emails to help them feel comfortable and confident as they started their international studies. After their arrival, the SSO hosted a virtual orientation session on adjusting to a Canadian classroom, using campus services, and ways of getting involved on campus.
Waterloo International was pleased to host a welcome reception on September 29 with Dr Ian Rowlands, AVP-International, providing a warm welcome and introduction. This informal gathering provided a great opportunity for the students to meet and network with faculty members, staff, and various members of the UW community.
One thing that really helped me to adapt here, at the University of Waterloo, is the inclusivity embraced by everyone on campus, whether it is by lecturers, staff, dons or friends. As a matter of fact, I encountered no obstacles in adapting due to the supportive and positive environment established here.
The IISMA students recently hosted an event in the Student Life Centre focused on community building and cultural exchange. “Kesatria: The Lost Heritage” was an entertaining and interactive display for campus members to learn more about Indonesian culture through food, traditional games, a photo booth, and souvenirs.
Student mobility programs like the IISMA bring cultural richness and awareness to the campus community while fostering a collaborative academic environment where students, both local and international, can learn, grow, and enrich each other. Waterloo looks forward to welcoming international students from around the globe as opportunities like this continue to be offered.
Waterloo International continues working with many partners across campus to develop the university’s connections with Indonesia further. For more information, or if you have any questions or comments, please contact Suping Zhao, international relations manager responsible for Indonesia, at international.relations@uwaterloo.ca.
Follow IISMA students at Waterloo on Instagram @iisma_waterloo.
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The IISMA students recently hosted an event in the Student Life Centre focused on community building and cultural exchange. “Kesatria: The Lost Heritage” was an entertaining and interactive display for campus members to learn more about Indonesian culture through food, traditional games, a photo booth, and souvenirs.
