USD Welcomes Six International Students through the 2025 KNB Program
USD – Sanata Dharma University has once again opened its doors to international students by accepting six new students for the 2025 Kemitraan Negara Berkembang (KNB) scholarship program. The students come from five countries: Bangladesh, Madagascar, Egypt, Tanzania, and Pakistan.
The six students arrived in Indonesia on Sunday (August 24, 2025) and attended a national orientation at Swissôtel Jakarta the following day. The event, organized by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, was attended by all KNB scholarship awardees from across Indonesia, along with representatives from the International Office of each university.
Three students, Rafanomezantsoa Anjara Nomena (Madagascar), Sadaf Fatima (Pakistan), and Lamia Hannan Sneha (Bangladesh), will pursue a Bachelor of Management program. Meanwhile, Cazimiry Boniphace Masasila (Tanzania) and Mohamed Saied Sayed Ahmed Mahmoud (Egypt) will enroll in a Master of Management program. Arooba Kishwar (Pakistan) has chosen the Master of English Language Education program.
The Head of the International Office (BKHI) of Sanata Dharma University, Yurisdixta Menavia, who accompanied the students, explained that there is a preparation period for these international students.
“Before entering their chosen study programs, all students will take a one-year Indonesian Language Program for Foreign Speakers (BIPA) at the USD Language Institute to strengthen their Indonesian language skills,” she said.
After they arrived in Yogyakarta (August 26, 2025), the students attended a local orientation organized by BKHI on Wednesday (August 27, 2025) in the Personnel Bureau Meeting Room. The orientation covered an introduction to Indonesia and Yogyakarta, local ethics and traditions, tourist attractions, traditional foods, academic regulations, and campus life.
The activity continued with a tour of Campuses 1 and 2 to introduce the available facilities, including the library at Campus 2 and how to access its book collection. Mohamed Saied, who is quite fluent in Indonesian, expressed his enthusiasm.
“I can’t wait to explore Yogyakarta because Indonesia is famous for its many beautiful tourist attractions. I also learned Indonesian before enrolling,” he said.
Meanwhile, Cazimiry also appreciated the facilities at the USD campus.
“The campus is so big and complete, I think I might get lost at first,” he said.
(AM/RI-BKHI)