From 24th July to 7th August 2024, students of Universitas Airlangga embark on a unique educational journey with BBK International in collaboration with the Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences (TUPLS), Japan. This program offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn through hands-on activities and explore the advanced technologies of Japan, contributing to the continuous development of the medical and pharmacy field. Students will delve into an extensive study of pharmacy and biodiversity while immersing themselves in the area’s rich cultural heritage. The program is designed to provide students with insights into a broader range of technologies and knowledge beyond the setting where they live, preparing them to tackle future challenges, including those in the pharmaceutical industry.

With extensive learning in laboratories and outside learning to pharmaceutical companies and hospital visits, students are likelier to enrich their understanding and implement it in developing Indonesia’s research and knowledge of medicine and pharmacy. Through observing and exposing them to the latest research in TUPLS, students receive new knowledge that they may not have experienced beforehand, such as the difference in purifying a variety of compounds, obtaining desired compounds from chemical reactions, maintaining safety and sterility during microbe inoculation, and understanding the mechanism of microbial fuel cells (MCF). The students engaged in real-life hospital simulations in which they learned the use of technology to help double-check medicinal items to prevent human error. The program also gives them a glimpse of what it is like to be a pharmacist in Japan and how machines mainly assist in preparing and compounding medications.

In addition to the academic learning, participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage of Tokyo, Japan. They will experience the traditions and customs of Japan, such as visiting temples, participating in firework festivals, and wearing traditional Japanese clothing. This cultural immersion is designed to broaden their knowledge and understanding of Japan’s journey to becoming a significant international power. This process was influenced by modernization and Westernization during the era of Emperor Meiji. These unique experiences will enrich their personal lives and contribute to their academic and professional growth.

Overall, the program provides the opportunity to enhance students’ academic and nonacademic understanding of pharmacy internationally through comparative studies, lecture sessions, and visitations. It also allows students to gain new insights that would later enable them to compete and collaborate with others at a national or global level. The program itself aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically Quality Education (SDG 4), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9), Life on Land (SDG 15), and Partnership for the Goals (SDG 17).