Internship programs go a long way in assisting students to garner much-needed work experience and prepare them for the professional world. One of the opportunities for this is provided under the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program. By being involved with this program, students will increase their experience and independence in the pursuit and discovery of knowledge through direct experiences and the dynamics of the field.

MBKM internship which is considered a worth-the-after opportunity to expand experience and broad insight into governmental activity through active participation that is taken by English Literature Students batch 2021, including Putri Embun Auliani, Nurul Muna Aisya, and Sausan Shofi Salsabila. Similarly, Nabiel Salim Ramadhan, a student of English Literature, Class of 2021, UIN Sunan Kalijaga, was entitled to the same opportunity even though he joined a non-MBKM internship program.

Foreign Policy Strategy Agency (BKLSN) under The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Nabiel Salim Ramadhani, a 2021 class student of English Literature at UIN Sunan Kalijaga, interned from October 16 to December 17, 2024, at the Foreign Policy Strategy Agency (BSKLN) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is really highly valued work experience, as it opens one's horizons to real-life diplomacy dynamics and builds professional skills in many areas of service.

One of the important roles played by Nabiel was that of a note-taker in several significant agendas, including coordination meetings for the 11th D-8 Summit and the ASEAN socio-cultural pillar, and also a Focus Group Discussion on the future of UN peacekeeping missions and Indonesia's defense industry readiness. Further, Nabiel was bestowed with a trust to operate presentations during dissemination on Career Opportunities for Indonesian Nationals in International Organizations dated October 31, 2024, at the Training Center of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Senayan, Jakarta.

During his administrative activities, Nabiel conducted news monitoring in the fields of socio-cultural and political-security affairs to comprehend deeper the dynamics within foreign policy. Among his other activities, Nabiel participated in the writing of policy briefs, and strategic documents that analyze and recommend policies for stakeholders in support of Indonesia's foreign policy initiatives.

The internship program was wrapped up with an exit briefing, held online on December 17, 2024, which gave the opportunity for reflection upon all activities undertaken within the program. During this experience, Nabiel successfully developed a number of professional skills, including communication, teamwork, research, and time management. This internship not only expanded his perspective on diplomatic work in Indonesia but also became an important stepping stone in preparing for a professional career in international relations.

Balai Bahasa of Special Region of Yogyakarta

English Literature student class of 2021, Stevi Wulandari, participated in the internship program from September 17 to November 17, 2024, at Balai Bahasa of Special Region of Yogyakarta. During her internship, Stevi was involved in activities that support the development and preservation of language and literature in the Yogyakarta area.

An important activity that Stevi carried out was translating children's short story texts from Indonesian to English. In addition, Stevi inputted reports, articles, and other documents into Web Adabay which aimed for training in managing data in a thorough and structured manner, and created Instagram content to introduce and promote Balai Bahasa activities and services to the wider community. She also contributed in proposing new vocabulary for the online Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) and designing banners for the annual Language Month event.

In addition to the main activities, Stevi also participates in routine activities that are carried out every week, such as morning roll call, community service, mugisari, and reception picket. These activities improve communication skills, coordination, and discipline.

Other students of English Literature who participated in the internship program at Balai Bahasa of Special Region of Yogyakarta were Putri Embun Auliani and Nurul Muna Aisya. They completed their internship program from November 2024 to January 2025.

During their internship, Putri and Nurul were involved in various activities that supported their language competency development. They contributed to collecting new entries for Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI) and Kamus Besar Jawa-Indonesia (KBJI), reviewed academic articles in English, and translated children's short stories from Indonesian and Javanese into English. In addition, the participants took part in the mock Indonesian Language Proficiency Test (UKBI) session and were supposed to prepare discussion minutes regarding Indonesian language use in official correspondence.

Beyond their primary responsibilities, they also joined other supporting activities such as serving as receptionists at the Integrated Service Unit (Unit Layanan Terpadu - ULT), exercising every morning, community service or kerja bakti, Upacara Seniman on Monday morning, and ceremonies. This would not only add to the experience during their internship but also contribute to the development of some significant professional skills such as communication, teamwork, time management, and research.

Through this internship program, Putri and Nurul not only expanded their knowledge in language and literature but also gained deeper insights into local culture and the crucial role of language in society. This experience serves as an important foundation for shaping their future career paths while preparing them for the professional world after completing their education.

Department of Culture (Kundha Kabudayan) of Special Region of Yogyakarta

Sausan Shofi Salsabila, a student of the English Literature class at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, participated in the MBKM Internship in Department of Culture (Kundha Kabudayan) of Special Region of Yogyakarta, from November 4, 2024 to January 3, 2025. During the internship, the activities Sausan joined enriched not only her understanding of culture but also her administrative and communicative skills.

One of Sausan’s main responsibilities was managing the loan and return records of books in the library, ensuring smooth administrative processes and accurate user data documentation. Besides these, there were the usual Monday morning assembly features to bring discipline and teamwork within the employees' fold with ongoing work program information.

Sausan was also privileged to participate in various cultural activities that increased her awareness about how to preserve cultural heritage. Participating in the Wajib Kunjungan Museum (WKM) program at the Chocolate Museum and the Yogyakarta Presidential Palace gave her hands-on experience with cultural preservation efforts in Yogyakarta. Sausan later joined the Yogyakarta Heritage Bus for a tour to explore Sumbu Filosofi, a cultural philosophy that introduces the cultural connection among historical sites in Yogyakarta.

This internship experience not only provided her with valuable insight into the local government's strategy for cultural preservation but also afforded Sausan the opportunity to apply the narrative analysis and communication skills she has learned in her studies. During these activities, Sausan was able to develop professional skills useful in the workforce while enhancing her knowledge of the important position that culture plays in society. (SH/S)