Bali International Program on Asian Studies (BIPAS) Holds 2022 Spring Program Orientation

The Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Udayana University held the Opening Ceremony and Orientation Day Spring Program 2022 Bali International Program on Asian Studies (BIPAS) which took place online through the Cisco Webex application, Thursday (10/02/2022). This activity was attended by the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, the Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, the Vice Deans and staff at the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, KUI Coordinator, BIPAS Program Coordinator, and Chief Representative Officer of Asiabroad Mr. Hannes Borgwardt and was attended by 49 students.

BIPAS Program Coordinator Anak Agung Sagung Shanti Sari Dewi, S.S., M. Hum., M.App.Ling. In his report, he said that the Opening Ceremony and Orientation Day of BIPAS were still being conducted online, considering the ongoing pandemic conditions and the current spread of the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus. Responding to the implementation of online learning, the BIPAS program has prepared an academic support system needed by students and lecturers to conduct online learning effectively. There are 49 students participating in the BIPAS program this semester from various European countries including Bulgaria, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Turkey, Spain, Morocco, Gibraltar, Finland, Switzerland, Italy and Austria.

Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences Dr. Made Sri Satyawati, S.S., M. Hum. in his speech, he expressed his gratitude to the students who have chosen Udayana University, especially the BIPAS program to learn about Asian Culture for 1 semester. Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Udayana University has implemented virtual learning which of course also happens at various other universities around the world. Even though it is conducted online, it is hoped that the lectures that are attended by students in the BIPAS program will not only provide knowledge, but also have the opportunity to experience the teaching and learning process at Udayana University which may be different from the student's home university.

While the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Ir. I Gede Rai Maya Temaja, M.P. in his speech said that Udayana University is one of the leading universities in eastern Indonesia which has a large number of international students. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, every year there were more than 1,600 foreign students studying at Udayana University, but this number has been much reduced since the last two years in line with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The BIPAS program is expected to provide opportunities for international students to experience the academic atmosphere in Bali, especially in the fields of tourism, economics and business, law, entrepreneurship, communication, sociology, and culture. BIPAS is one of the most favorite international study programs with lecturers with diverse international backgrounds and unquestionable quality in their fields.

After the Opening, followed by student orientation activities including an introduction to Udayana University in general and its facilities, an introduction to Bali and its culture, a virtual tour, and an introduction to the learning process in the BIPAS program.