At the opening ceremony of the International Class Program of the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati (FEB UGJ), Damy Matheus Heezen, affiliate of the Changemakers Network and representative of RRR Advice B.V. (The Netherlands), delivered an inspiring keynote session titled “Exploring Internationalization – What Does It Really Mean for Indonesia?”
The event marked the launch of FEB UGJ’s vision to strengthen the internationalisation of students and lecturers in the digital era — empowering them to engage in global learning while maintaining the essence of Indonesia’s identity and values.
Internationalisation: A Journey, Not a Destination
In his session, Damy Heezen encouraged students and lecturers to see internationalisation not as a label, but as a continuous journey of learning, connecting, sharing, creating, and transforming.
He reflected on key contrasts between education cultures — “In the Netherlands, we focus on practice before degree. In Indonesia, we value degree before practice. But real growth happens when both come together.”
Heezen invited participants to rethink the purpose of studying abroad or working with international institutions: “Don’t go abroad to become someone else — go abroad to bring your Indonesian strength to the world.”
Bridging Worlds Through Collaboration and Innovation
Throughout the interactive workshop, participants explored themes such as knowledge, culture, innovation, and impact — and discussed what Indonesia can teach the world, what it can learn from others, and how both worlds can be connected.
“It’s not about following the West,” Heezen said. “It’s about learning together — sharing our experiences and building shared innovation between Indonesia and the world.”
The session concluded with group discussions where students reflected on how UGJ can become more international without losing its Indonesian soul, reinforcing the idea that meaningful internationalisation begins from within.
A Shared Vision for Empowered Education
The Changemakers Network recognises this initiative by FEB UGJ as a powerful example of education in action — where global awareness meets local identity.
By fostering collaboration between academia, government, and international partners, this program embodies the Changemakers Network’s mission: empowering people and institutions to connect global vision with local impact.
