UNM's EduTrip: Blending Travel and Study for a Global Classroom Experience
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Breaking the Classroom Walls
How UNM's EduTrip Program is Redefining Higher Education
Imagine earning college credits while trekking through the rainforests of Borneo or discussing literature in a café in Paris. That’s the promise of EduTrip, a bold initiative by Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM) that’s turning the traditional study-abroad model on its head.
Unlike conventional exchange programs, EduTrip integrates travel directly into the curriculum, offering students short-term, faculty-led trips tied to specific courses. Think marine biology students conducting fieldwork in Raja Ampat or business majors analyzing supply chains in Singapore—all while earning degree requirements.
The Numbers Behind the Adventure
Since its 2022 pilot, EduTrip has sent over 300 students to 15 countries, with Japan, Australia, and Malaysia topping the list. Participation costs? Roughly 15–20 million IDR ($1,000–$1,300) per trip—a fraction of semester-abroad fees—thanks to UNM’s partnerships with foreign universities.
‘We’re not selling vacations,’ insists Dr. Andi Tenri Ampa, the program’s architect. ‘These are intensive learning experiences with 60% structured academic time. That museum visit? It’s a graded assignment analyzing cultural heritage management.’
Why This Matters Now
A Generation Demanding Experiential Learning
Gen Z’s appetite for hands-on education is reshaping universities globally. A 2023 QS survey found 78% of Indonesian students prioritize ‘real-world experience’ in choosing programs. EduTrip taps into this while addressing a key barrier: cost.
‘My parents freaked when I said I wanted to study abroad,’ laughs chemistry junior Dian Sastrowardoyo, who joined a two-week nanotechnology lab exchange in South Korea. ‘But this was affordable, and I came back with lab skills our equipment here can’t teach.’
The Ripple Effects
Beyond student benefits, EduTrip is quietly boosting UNM’s global standing. Partner institutions like Universiti Malaya now fast-track research collaborations with UNM faculty who lead trips.
There are challenges, of course. Visa hiccups plague some destinations, and not all departments have adapted curricula for travel components. Yet with applications doubling each semester, this may be the future of affordable global education—one where ‘classroom’ spans continents.
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