On July 25, 2024, students from the English Literature Program at Universitas Dian Nusantara (UNDIRA) visited the Japanese Embassy for the Republic of Indonesia. The purpose of this visit was to learn about Japanese cultural and societal characteristics, higher education in Japan, and opportunities for working in Japan.

The visit was accompanied by two lecturers from the English Literature Program, Bapak Todo F. B. Sibuea, S.Pd., M.Hum. dan Wahyu Budi, S.S., M.Sas. A total of 21 UNDIRA English Literature students attended the event in the Auditorium on the 2nd floor of the Japanese Embassy in Indonesia, located at Jl. M.H. Thamrin 24, Central Jakarta. The UNDIRA academic community was warmly welcomed by the Embassy's Public Affairs Team.

One of the Embassy staff members, Mr. Fahmi, opened the event and provided an in-depth introduction to Japan’s geography and education system. The students responded enthusiastically to the information about Japan’s technological and innovative advancements, such as robots, electronic devices, advanced medical equipment, and rapidly evolving trends. A key focus of the visit was to gain a deeper understanding of the education system and information about scholarships for studying in Japan.

The UNDIRA students were also given the opportunity to participate in a Q&A session. During this session, the students actively posed various questions to the Embassy’s diplomatic staff. Some of the questions included: the sociological characteristics of Japan, how to pursue a master's degree in Japan, and the development plans for educational institutions in Japan over the next 10 years. The third question related to Japan’s significant decline in birth rates. All questions were clearly answered by the Japanese Embassy, including inquiries about Indonesian students wishing to study in Japan.

Following this, the students were invited to visit the mini-library on the 2nd floor of the Japanese Embassy. The library and the spacious auditorium contained various Japanese cultural artifacts as well as the flags of Indonesia and Japan. At the end of the event, to commemorate the visit, the students had a photo session and received several souvenirs from the Japanese Embassy.

In addition to gaining a profound understanding of Japanese education and culture, the UNDIRA students acquired information about Japanese cultural philosophy and sociology, emphasizing the importance of community and respect for others. This visit not only provided new insights into Japan’s educational system but also offered valuable lessons and information about scholarships and student exchanges to Japan.

As a follow-up to this event, the UNDIRA English Literature Program students are interested in exploring potential collaborations between the English Literature Department of Universitas Dian Nusantara and the Japanese Embassy, whether in education, business, or other related fields. It is believed that such collaboration will benefit both parties and contribute to achieving goals of innovation and excellence in education.