EMPM Student Seminar Highlights Resilience and Educational Hope at IPB University

IPB University welcomed the EMPM Student Seminar on 15 May 2025, hosted in collaboration with DAAD Indonesia as part of the EMPM. Held at the Senate Meeting Room, Rectorate Building, the event brought together students and academic representatives to spotlight stories of perseverance, education, and cross-border academic solidarity.

The EU Mobility Programme for Myanmar (EMPM) is a joint initiative implemented by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Campus France, and Nuffic, funded with EUR 5 million over 48 months (January 2023 – December 2026). The program aims to protect Myanmar’s next generation through access to education and training, increase opportunities for online learning and academic mobility in ASEAN and the EU, and support students, young professionals, and displaced academics affected by disruptions in Myanmar’s education system.

The seminar provided a platform for EMPM scholarship recipients to share their lived experiences as students navigating uncertain futures due to the ongoing situation in Myanmar. These young individuals are not only pursuing academic success but are also determined to contribute to their communities and build more hopeful futures.

The event began with opening remarks from Prof. Dr. Iskandar Z. Siregar, Vice-Rector for Global Connectivity, Collaboration, and Alumni, IPB University, and Dr. Kai Sicks, Secretary-General of DAAD. Their messages emphasized the transformative power of education and the importance of inclusive learning environments across borders.

In the keynote session, Mr. Stefan Hase-Bergen, Head of Division for Development Cooperation and Transregional Programmes and Senior Responsible Officer of EMPM, and Ms. Puji Mudiana, Director of International Education, IPB University, shared insights under the theme “Maintaining Access to Higher Education in a Fragile Context – The Case of Myanmar.”

A central part of the seminar was the student-sharing session titled “Our Right to Degrees”, where three EMPM scholarship awardees recounted their academic journeys:

• Mr. Aung Phyoe Naing, International Elementary Teacher Education student, President University
• Ms. Thida Swe Zin, a Biology student, at IPB University
• Ms. Yoon Nandar Khaing, a Law student, at Universitas Airlangga

Ms. Yoon Nandar Khaing, a Law student at Universitas Airlangga, presented her “Our Right to Degrees”.

Their powerful stories reflected the impact of academic mobility opportunities in rebuilding personal and professional confidence, broadening perspectives, and empowering growth despite instability in their home country. The seminar concluded with a networking lunch, a meaningful opportunity for Myanmarese students, many of whom are studying across different islands in Indonesia, to reconnect, share experiences, and reflect with fellow participants and organizers.

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