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The Collaboration program between Politeknik Negeri Jember (Polije) and Kyungpook National University (KNU) in the World Friends Korea ICT Volunteers program officially closed on Friday, August 16th, 2024, after lasting for three weeks. The student exchange program began on July 29th and ended on August 18th, 2024, involving 24 students from KNU who collaborated with Polije students on various information technology (IT)-based projects.
This year’s World Friends Korea ICT Volunteers program marks the fourth time KNU has collaborated with Polije, which has become a strategic partner in efforts to improve student competence in the field of technology. In this program, the students are divided into six groups, each consisting of KNU and Polije students. They work together in developing various innovative projects that integrate AI (Artificial Intelligence) and IoT (Internet of Things) technologies, with direct guidance from Polije lecturers.
Each group has the challenge of creating applicable and innovative technological solutions. One of the most outstanding projects in this program was the work of one of the groups from Woo Daegyu. Their project won the award as the best project with the AI innovation they developed to create music. The system they created utilizes Generate AI technology to automatically generate lyrics and melodies, allowing users to create their own songs through the web-based platform they built.
“This project was an interesting challenge because we had to combine different elements of technology to create something creative and usable by many people. I am very proud of our team’s work, and this experience really enriched our knowledge of how technology can be used in a creative context,” said Woo Daegyu.
In addition to the academic aspect, the program also provided opportunities for students to engage in cultural exchange. The Korean and Indonesian students not only worked together on technology projects, but also interacted in various cultural activities. KNU and Polije students shared experiences about life in their respective countries, including traditions, food, and language. Some Korean students even wear traditional Indonesian clothes, such as batik and weaving, on certain occasions and try to speak Indonesian, which creates an atmosphere of intimacy between them.
“Exchanging cultures with friends from Indonesia is a very valuable experience. I really enjoyed the moments when we could learn and share each other’s culture, be it through food, music, or even the way we dress,” said Woo Daegyu.
Vice Director for Planning, Collaboration, and Information Systems of Polije, Agung Wahyono, S.P., M.SI., Ph.D., in an interview, said that the World Friends Korea ICT Volunteers program is not only a matter of technology development, but also an important platform to improve the competence of Polije students through international interaction. He emphasized that collaboration with KNU, one of the leading universities in South Korea, has opened great opportunities for Polije students to develop themselves, both in the academic and cultural fields.
“This program is not just about who wins the award, but also about how we can learn and develop together. Through this collaboration, Polije students get the opportunity to improve their competence in technology while understanding Korean culture firsthand. This is a very valuable experience that will help them in the future,” said Agung Wahyono.
The program is fully supported by the National Information Society Agency (NIA) and the South Korean government, who see great potential in this kind of international collaboration to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in the fields of education and technological innovation. With the end of this program, both Polije and KNU hope that this collaboration can continue and grow in the future, providing even greater benefits for students and communities in both countries.
The closing of this program not only marks the end of a series of activities for three weeks, but also the beginning of a closer relationship between the two institutions. Students involved in this program not only brought home new knowledge and skills, but also memories and friendships that will continue to be established. In the future, it is hoped that similar programs can continue to be promoted to encourage innovation, creativity, and mutual understanding between nations. (vig/ang)