VAOSE 3 in Japan: A Strategic Step of BDLP UNHAS Toward Strengthening Global Marine Vocational Education
For Budi Daya Laut dan Pantai (BDLP) or Marine Aquaculture and Coastal Management Study Program, Faculty of Vocational Studies (Vokasi), Hasanuddin University (UNHAS), the internationalisation of vocational education is a key strategy to enhance academic quality and global competitiveness. Demonstrating this commitment, BDLP organised the third cycle of the Vocational Aquaculture Outbound Student Exchange (VAOSE 3) in Japan on 9–19 November 2025, serving as a platform for academic enrichment, global benchmarking, and strengthening collaboration in aquaculture and marine sciences.
The BDLP delegation was represented by four academic staff members: Dr. Dian Novita Sari, Ahmad Sajjad, Muh. Fatratullah Muhsin, and Nunun Ainun Putri Sari Banun Kaliky. Over the 11-day programme, they observed international best practices in aquaculture, built professional networks with overseas universities and industry partners, and explored academic insights needed to enhance BDLP’s curriculum and teaching model. The academic highlight was a public lecture at Hiroshima University delivered by Prof. Kazuhiko Koike, PhD, Vice President of Hiroshima University, alongside Indonesian doctoral student Nurhikmah Tenripada, presenting modern developments in aquaculture research and workforce preparation.
In addition to academic activities, cultural immersion visits were conducted to significant sites, including the Atomic Bomb Dome Hiroshima, Miyajima Island, Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, and cultural destinations in Okayama and Kyoto. These experiences contributed to developing essential soft skills, intercultural awareness, work ethic, and a global mindset—competencies needed for future professionals in the international aquaculture sector.
BDLP views VAOSE 3 as a substantial academic milestone that strengthened global academic networks, supported pedagogical and research improvement, and reinforced the integration of international knowledge within the vocational curriculum. More importantly, the programme demonstrated that marine vocational graduates must master both technical skills and intercultural competence to remain competitive globally. VAOSE continues to be part of BDLP’s long-term strategy for internationally engaged vocational education, with expectations of expanding collaboration opportunities in the future.