Mataram, University of Mataram – Anjani Riski Pradyanti, an undergraduate student of the Faculty of Animal Science, University of Mataram (Faterna Unram) who is currently undergoing the Certified Internship and Independent Study Program (MSIB) for two semesters starting in February 2024 and will last until February 2025 at the well-known dairy company Abe Farm Co. Ltd, located in Shibechao Hokkaido, Japan.

Abe Farm Co. Ltd, currently under the leadership of Director Masao Abe has been in operation for 95 years since its establishment in 1929. The company pioneered and is the largest dairy cattle company in the Shibecha region with a land area of 310 hectares. Currently, Abe Farm Co. Ltd manages about 1,129 cows with a daily milk production ranging from 10,000 to 13,000 liters. The dairy company applies modern technology in farm management, including the use of robotic cages (roboto) that allow the milking process to be fully automated without human assistance.

Anjani’s decision to join the Certified Independent Study Program was driven by her desire to gain practical experience that is in line with the theory she has learned in university.

“I am interested in looking directly at technology development in developed countries and hope to apply the knowledge I gained in Japan to further improve animal science in Indonesia,” said Anjani when interviewed by the Unram Public Relations team on Wednesday, August 27, 2024.

During her internship, Anjani experienced various memorable experiences. One of them is to see Friesian Holstein (FH) cattle in large numbers, something that is rarely found in eastern Indonesia such as NTB. Anjani was also impressed with the advanced technology used at Abe Farm Co. Ltd as well as observing the process of handling diseases in dairy cattle and how the theories she has learned can be applied in real life.

The student who also received the ACT Japan scholarship from the third semester until now also experienced culture shock, especially when she had to adapt to the extreme winter weather in Hokkaido with temperatures below zero degrees Celsius. In addition, Anjani also felt homesick because she was far from her family, as well as the challenge of adapting to a very different language and culture.

“Halal food is hard to find and the time difference between seasons is also quite significant, I even experienced dawn at 1pm,” Anjani said. However, she is grateful that the environment there is highly tolerant of differences, including in terms of worship and the way she dresses.

Anjani’s biggest motivation is her pride in herself for what she has achieved so far. She considers this opportunity very valuable, especially because it can make her parents proud, and bring the name of Faterna Unram to the international level.

“I hope that I can provide motivation for many people, especially animal science students, and later the knowledge I have gained can become insight or information for the community upon my return to Indonesia,” she said.

Through this opportunity, Anjani also invited other Unram students to participate in various MBKM programs, especially the MSIB program.

“Are you sure you don’t want to join MBKM, especially MSIB? There are so many benefits that we can get such as course conversion, Japanese language certificates, internship certificates from well-known Japanese companies, research experience, learning Japanese language and culture and experiencing four seasons in Japan. I’m looking forward for you to apply for this program with strong determination and enthusiasm. Ganbatte kudasai minasan. Mata nihon de aimashou,” said Anjani enthusiastically.