The five students of the Government Science Study Program, FISIP UMM, namely Ni'matul Aulia, Agus Muis Ridwan, Mussa Nompoh Wahyuh Raja, Muhammad Ansyari and Muhammad Sofyan Putra have completed the Student Exchange Program at the College of Local Administration (COLA) Khon Kaen University (KKU), Thailand (09/05/2019). While in Thailand, the students have carried out various activities, ranging from attending lectures in class, being involved in the COLA Seminar on Southeast Asia, Khon Kaen City Tour, cultural education to participating in the activities of the Indonesian Student Association in Thailand (PERMITHA) Simpul Khon Kaen.
During the learning process that lasted ± 3 months, students have also received various disciplines such as Urban Planning, Local Public Policy, Principles of Economics for Fiscal Management and New World Order in The New Millenium. In addition to the presentation of materials in class, just like what was done by the UMM IP Study Program, students at COLA KKU are also required to conduct research. Ridwan said that "we are very happy to be given the opportunity to be involved in research together with Thai students. The first research we conducted took place in Ban Donkha Village, one of the villages that also implemented the One Tambon One Product (OTOP) program where the main product of this village is silk or a type of songket cloth but made from tree fibers. Research in Ban Donkha Village was conducted to determine the shortcomings and advantages in implementing the OTOP program so that the results of this research can later be used as material for program evaluation. While the second research was conducted in Banhad Municipality. In Banhad we conducted research on governance and financial management of its government. Just like in Indonesia, Banhad Municipality also exercises its autonomy rights so that the Banhad government has made many innovations, especially in its public service system, so as to support the creation of quality public services," he said.
The return of UMM IP Study Program students was also released directly by Assoc. Prof. Supawatanakom Wongthanavasu, Ph. D as Dean of COLA KKU. He said that this program is one way to strengthen the synergy between COLA KKU and UMM IP Study Program. Students who have participated in this program are not only limited to student exchange but are also expected to continue their Master Degree at COLA KKU.
