Pharmacy Students of UIN Jakarta take part in Student Exchange

Spain, UIN News Online – Putri Siti Hawa, Pharmacy student of UIN Jakarta was selected as representative from Indonesia to take part in student exchange activity at Miguel Hernandez University, Spain. This student exchange activity is held by the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF) in collaboration with pharmaceutical student organizations in various countries.

Putri is the only pharmaceutical student representing Indonesia, she was chosen after passing a selection involving Indonesian pharmacy students who were members of ISMAFARSI (Indonesian Pharmacy Student Senate Association). After passing the selection, Putri was then accepted by FEEF (Federacion Espanola de Estvediantes de Pharmacia), the pharmaceutical student organization in Spain.

"I had the opportunity to do research at the Microbiology Laboratory of the Miguel Hernandez University along with pharmaceutical students from Poland and Austria. We did a lot of things, one of which was to take a virus sample from the Mediterranean Sea,” she said.

There are quite a number of challenges that must be faced by Putri, especially related to communication and cultural issues upon her arrival in Spain. As a Muslim student, many questioned the reason why she was wearing a hijab. However, Putri admitted that she had no difficulty in giving an explanation of the hijab she was wearing.

“I went to Spain armed with the confidence of both parents. This is an extraordinary opportunity for me. I also appreciate the attention of drug manufacturers here in Spain to persons with disabilities where the medicine packaging here is already equipped with Braille alphabet. Moreover, all aspects of pharmacy here are also very advanced and Indonesia must begin to start catching it up. Hopefully I can be one of the pioneers in this progress,” said Putri. (usa)