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Navigating challenges: Indonesian students' journey in China
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Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University helps students adapt through student community groups, language partners, “Buddy Programme”, and more from their office for international students.
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s the world becomes more interconnected, Indonesian students are often motivated to study abroad to seek academic excellence, cultural immersion, and career opportunities. According to the most recent data from the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, approximately 60,000 Indonesian students are studying abroad for higher education.
In line with this trend, China is a popular destination among Indonesian students due to its unique benefits, such as insights of China, becoming fluent in the Chinese language, and being exposed to diverse job opportunities and career prospects.
However, students who study abroad sometimes struggle with adapting to a new culture, homesickness, and the language barrier.
Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), an international university in Suzhou, China, helps international students overcome these challenges by providing them with a broad range of academic, cultural, and personal growth supports. These include an Indonesian student community group, language partners, “Buddy Programme”, and services from XJTLU’s office for international students.
Home for Indonesian students
Suzhou Indonesia Student Community (SISC), a part of Perhimpunan Pelajar Indonesia - Tiongkok (PPIT), is an independent student-run organisation established in 2009 to support Indonesian students in Suzhou. It aims to improve relationships among Indonesian students, foster better internal and external collaboration, and establish a student ambassadorship to enhance Indonesia’s reputation in Suzhou.
Bryan Arden Budiman is a Year Three BSc Information Management and Information Systems student at XJTLU. As the current president, he says that the group creates a genuine Indonesian community in Suzhou, fostering a culture of collaborative growth and reciprocal assistance for approximately 250 Indonesian students who are currently studying in Suzhou.
“We organise events to forge deep connections, such as welcoming parties, gathering events, and many other activities. We want to make Indonesian students feel Suzhou is like a home away from home. Moreover, we are planning to collaborate with other Indonesian student communities from other parts of China, such as COPA, which is an annual sports event held by PPIT Ningbo in March this year,” he says.
Language support
Language Partner Union (LPU), another student-run club at XJTLU, supports international students in understanding the Chinese language and culture and creating friendships with local Chinese students.
In the club, international students can partner with Chinese students to practice speaking and listening to Mandarin and to learn more about Chinese culture through gatherings and games.
Wilbert Joselim, a Year Four BEng Urban Planning and Design student from Medan, says that LPU gave him cultural knowledge about food, trends, and table manners.
For example, he was surprised to learn that China has various dialects and local foods, as he thought that China had only one language and culture. For example, people from Sichuan province prefer to eat spicy food, whereas people from other places in China, like Suzhou, favour sweet food.
In addition to what he learned through the club, he increased his social network and enjoyed the interactive activities it offered.
“We played games where students needed to repeat words in Chinese, guess Chinese idioms, and discuss Chinese dialects. The activities helped me improve my Chinese speaking and listening skills,” he says.
With Chinese friends he met through LPU, he attended live music events and social gatherings.
“I think the sessions I had with LPU were so valuable in deepening my understanding of the Chinese culture. My experiences with LPU members encouraged me to study harder and be more willing to accept cultural differences between students from diverse backgrounds,” he says.
Friends from around the world
Apart from student-run organisations, the University provides international students with additional services and support.
XJTLU’s Buddy Programme assigns every new student to a senior student, called “Big Buddy”, who will guide the newer student through their university life. Before each academic year starts, the university assigns the Big Buddy to help prepare new students for their arrival in China.
Michelle Patricia Teo, a Year Two BSc Biological Sciences student from Medan, says her Big Buddy has been invaluable in helping her navigate her journey at XJTLU and in China.
“I was matched with a nice Buddy who helped me even before I arrived in China by informing me about university-related matters, such as the XJTLU club festival, workshops, suggestions about living in China, and much more. Whenever I have questions, she always tries her best to help. When I arrived in Suzhou, my Buddy also gave me a campus tour,” she says.
Internship opportunities
In addition, XJTLU Global, the University’s office for international students, also provides all current and prospective international students with specialised services and support. The office advises students on visa and residence permit applications, coordinates international student accommodation, helps students settle into the university and Suzhou, provides welcome information, and coordinates international academic partnerships and study abroad opportunities.
XJTLU Global also provides continuing career guidance for students who want to work in China or other countries.
Christie Caren, an MA International Business and Global Affairs student from Jakarta, is currently interning at the W Suzhou, a luxury hotel brand owned by Marriott Bonvoy.
“XJTLU Global regularly informs students of diverse internship and job opportunities by sending emails to international students. From there, my journey at the W Suzhou started,” she says.
“Navigating through a competitive interview process where over 20 students vied for an internship, I emerged successfully as a chosen candidate, as I fulfilled all of the requirements. One of them is being fluent in Chinese.
“Starting my first job on-site in China, especially at W Suzhou, I was surprised by the strong focus on teamwork and efficient systems in the work culture. With supportive leaders, I dived into media and KOL interactions, confirming my choice to build my career in China.
“XJTLU Global helped me secure this opportunity. It opens doors for international students amid complex regulations, a chance for which I am grateful. I look forward to continuing my dream journey in China, confident that XJTLU Global will pave the way for more opportunities for international talents,” Caren says.
For more information about XJTLU, please visit www.xjtlu.edu.cn/en.
Source: XJTLU
