Monday, December 11, 2023 The Library Science Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta held a workshop on international program development. The event took place in the Theater Room of the Integrated Lecture Building to prepare Library Science students—particularly the class of 2021 enrolled in the international program—so that they may eventually participate in internships abroad. The guest speaker for this event was Mahbob bin Yusof, commonly known as Mr. Yusof, from Universiti Putra Malaysia.

The event began with opening remarks by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Cultural Studies, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Wildan, M.A. In his remarks, he expressed his sincere gratitude to all the organizers who contributed to the success of the event and also expressed his hope that the 2021 Library Science students would benefit from the workshop.

The event continued with remarks from the head of the Library Science Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, Prof. Dr. Nurdin, S.Ag., S.S., M.A. In his remarks, he expressed his hope that through this workshop, students would be able to apply their knowledge to prepare for internships abroad, particularly at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

The main event began with a presentation by Mr. Yusof, moderated by Ms. Marwiyah, S.Ag., S.S., M.LIS, and Ms. Arina Faila Saufa, M.A., lecturers in the Library Science Program at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. On this occasion, Mr. Yusof explained the internship program at Universiti Putra Malaysia, which has established partnerships with various universities, including UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta. He also explained the reasons for pursuing an internship specifically at Universiti Putra Malaysia, including the fact that Malaysia and Indonesia share a nearly identical language, making communication easier, and that Universiti Putra Malaysia holds strong accreditation, which positively impacts the quality of the university and the facilities available to students during their internship there. Universiti Putra Malaysia has 55 professional librarians holding PhDs, master’s degrees, postgraduate diplomas in library science, and bachelor’s degrees. Furthermore, he noted that the cost of an internship at Universiti Putra Malaysia is affordable, and the university does not profit from the program; students are only responsible for their own accommodation and transportation expenses. Internships at Universiti Putra Malaysia are flexible, and students who wish to intern at the Universiti Putra Malaysia Library can gain experience with the various library services available there.

The event continued with a question-and-answer session and concluded with closing remarks. During the Q&A session, several questions were raised by the enthusiastic participants regarding the material presented by the speakers. It is hoped that this event will provide the Class of 2021 with insights into how to prepare for an internship abroad, particularly at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Internship programs through international university partnerships can provide valuable experiences for students and, of course, enhance the quality of education.

Authors: Woroayu Fitrianingrum (wafn) & Nihayatul Lu’lu’in Nihlah (nln)