English Study Program students from Universitas Widyatama, class of 2022, successfully held the 2025 Field Study for the English Language Program in Malang, East Java. The event, which took place from October 21-25, 2025, carried the theme of learning directly from the field while exploring the city’s culture and tourism. The main objectives were to provide direct experience related to the concept of tourism, its impact on the environment, and to broaden knowledge through comparative studies of international programs.
The group of students departed from campus on October 21st, 2025. The core academic agenda began the following day (10/22) with an exploration of the Mount Bromo area. This visit was not simply a tour, but focused on in-depth discussions of ecotourism, sustainable tourism, and cultural diplomacy. Students learned how Indonesian tourism can serve as a tool of soft diplomacy to promote national culture on the international stage.
Strengthening Academic Networks at Universitas Brawijaya
The academic activities culminated on October 23rd, 2025, with a comparative study visit to Universitas Brawijaya (UB). There, Widyatama students engaged in academic discussions and knowledge exchange with UB English Literature lecturers and students. The focus of the meeting included issues of education, culture, and opportunities for further study at state universities. This activity also provided direct observation of the impact of tourism on the local environment and culture.
The series of events at UB included a highly relevant public lecture by one of UB’s English Literature lecturers on the topic of Critical Discourse and Multimodality Analysis. In addition, a dynamic Focus Group Discussion (FGD) was held between the Widyatama English Student Association (HIMABI) and the English Literature Student Association (ESA). This exchange was warmly welcomed by the host, creating a positive and enthusiastic collaborative atmosphere.
Yohanna, Chair of the UB English Literature Student Association, shared her impressions. “Today was actually really exciting because we got to know each other, and I also got to know what HIMABI is like. It’s very fun to know a lot of people. Maybe we can do a comparative study part 2,” she said. Kelly, Vice Chair of ESA FIB UB, echoed this sentiment, expressing her impression of the Widyatama group’s enthusiasm and her hope that the relationship between the two associations will continue in the future. “Hopefully, ESA FIB UB and HIMABI from Universitas Widyatama can continue to maintain their relationship in future cabinets.”
From Classic Transportation to Apple Agrotourism
After an intensive academic visit, students continued their cultural exploration at Museum Angkut in the afternoon (10/23). The purpose of this visit was to explore the history of world transportation and observe the cultural values integrated into the development of educational tourism in Indonesia. The series of activities concluded on October 24 with an agrotourism visit to an apple orchard. Students received guidance on agrotourism management and had the opportunity to pick apples directly before finally returning to Bandung.
Dianita, S.S., M.Hum, Lecturer at the English Study Program at Widyatama University, considered this field trip to be very memorable and different from previous years. “The most memorable thing was the collaboration with Brawijaya University. Yesterday’s presentation from one of the [UB] lecturers was also good. Then there was a discussion with the student association and they were very enthusiastic,” she said. As part of Universitas Widyatama, which is known as one of the private universities (PTS) in West Java with an excellent accreditation rating, she hopes that this collaboration can continue to grow. “Hopefully, we can collaborate again… not only with the student association, but maybe through a student exchange program or Tri Dharma research for lecturers,” added Dianita.
The students’ perspective is also very positive. Virlistyanti Dwi Yumardilla, Vice Chair of HIMABI, appreciated the experience gained. “It was very enjoyable and exciting to be able to gather again and gain new knowledge. Hopefully, the results of our benchmarking with Brawijaya University can be implemented in the study program,” she said. Despite the rainy weather, as mentioned by Nauval Muhammad Darussalam, a 2022 student, the activity was “still fun and enjoyable.” The 2025 English Program Field Study successfully combined academic learning, networking, cultural diplomacy, and tourism exploration in a comprehensive manner.
