The last part of the International Office (IO) of Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) Staff Exchange Program was a visit to Korea University (KU) in Seoul, South Korea, on February 12, 2025, at 2:30 PM Seoul time. The UNHAS team was warmly welcomed by Dr. Jeff DongHyun Jang (Director of International Office Affairs), and was accompanied by Dr. William Stewart (Associate Director, International Cooperation), Ms. Heejin Hong (Manager of the Exchange Program for Asia and Oceania; Outbound), and Ms. Heeyeon Jo (Manager of the Exchange Program for Asia and Oceania; Inbound) . The welcome ceremony started with an introduction to Korea University by Dr. William, followed by a Q&A session where both parties shared insights on their internationalization efforts.
A unique and exciting event presented by Dr. Jeff was Korea University’s “Pizza Party with President” (PPP), a popular occasion that attracts many international students and faculty members. The event’s success inspired the UNHAS team to consider implementing a similar initiative in Makassar. Although UNHAS may not replicate the pizza idea, they are considering offering a traditional sweet from Makassar as a way to bring together international students and faculty in a fun, engaging manner.
During the visit, the UNHAS delegation had the opportunity to present the 7th International Cultural Program (ICP) video, highlighting the exchange of cultures and experiences. Andi Masyitha Irwan, Ph.D., (Head of UNHAS IO), expressed her gratitude to KU for hosting the team and emphasized that for the 8th ICP, UNHAS hopes to welcome KU students to participate. This would mark the first time Korean students would take part in the program, and UNHAS extended an invitation for KU students to join a 10-day excursion to Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The aim is to enrich cultural diversity and facilitate exchange between institutions.
The visit concluded with a photo session and the exchange of tokens, symbolizing the growing partnership between UNHAS and KU. This moment marked another step toward strengthening the collaboration between the two universities, fostering closer ties for future academic and cultural exchanges.
