Prepared By: Siti Farah Hanim Alhafiz

Program : Biochemistry Mobility Program

Student Mobility Programmes (SMP) is believed to enhance the learning experience of
students by exposing them to the cultural, economic, political, educational, and ecological aspects
of other countries to develop global mindsets for career advancement and success in any
environment. With the awareness, 14 students from the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of
Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UPM were taking the opportunity to organize and
participate in the Biochemistry Mobility Program 2023 which serves as a global networking
platform and opportunities for them to experience student life in a foreign country, develop a global
vision, learn, or pick up a new language, experience new cultures and make new friends from
different parts of the world. This year, under the name of Biochemistry Mobility Programme 2023
(BMP 2023), we successfully made our way to Bangkok, Thailand and spent about 2 weeks (14
days) in each university. We were divided into 2 groups in which 7 students were placed in
Kasetsart University and another 7 students were placed in Suranaree University of Technology.

Our 2 weeks study visit in Kasetsart University (KU) and Suranaree University of
Technology (SUT) had included laboratory work, lectures, and cultural activities. For Kasetsart
University, our main focus is to learn on some of the new techniques and skills on the laboratory
work, hence, each of us had been assigned to a specific supervisor which specialized in a particular
field of study. We had been given the freedom to choose which field of study that piqued our
interest in order to decide which department of laboratory we will be joining. With that, we were
allocated 5 different labs including aquaculture, bioinformatics, cell culture and molecular studies
to work on the mini project assigned by each supervisor. At the end of the visit, we were expected
to present the outcomes of the study in front of the KU lecturers along with the present of Assoc.
Prof. Dr Zetty Norhana Balia Yusof, who is the lecturer in charge of supervising this program.

As for SUT, we also managed to expose ourselves to new insights, techniques, and research
methodologies in laboratory work. 7 of us were allocated into 3 different labs with different fields
of study which were immunological biochemistry lab, biotechnology lab, as well as enzyme
engineering lab. We were given mini projects to be done within the 2 weeks we were there and
presented our projects to the SUT lecturers and students.We have not only acquired additional
expertise in laboratory techniques and research, but also managed to create new friendships,
encountered unique experiences, and developed a profound understanding and admiration for a different culture. This was achieved through the exploration of local delicacies, visits to historical sites and museums, and even the acquisition of basic conversational skills in the local language.

These experiences not only expanded our theoretical understanding but also enriched our
practical expertise, making our time at Kasetsart University and Suranaree University of
Technology truly invaluable. Overall, this research mobility program serves as a catalyst for
academic growth, personal enrichment, and the promotion of global collaboration in the research
community.

Tarikh Input: 31/05/2024 | Kemaskini: 31/08/2024 | sh_najiyah