Student Mobility Program in UGM :)

“Some memories are unforgettable, remaining ever vivid and heartwarming’ – Joseph B. Wirthlin

“A wonderful albeit short summer course and yet the moments there shall never be forgotten”,

Those were the words that came out from us as soon as we landed in Malaysia after our 2 weeks in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

The summer course started from the 5th to the 19th of November 2018 in Universitas Gadjah Madah (UGM), Yogyakarta, Indonesia which was organized by Fakultas Farmasi UGM. We stayed in Tembok Batu Residence which located approximately 1.5km away from UGM and we had to walk there every day for lectures. There were a total of sixteen lectures, five field trips and many vacation spots that we saw throughout the summer course.

Jamu Summer Course, as its name suggests is a course that focuses mainly on Jamu production, consumption and acceptance by the consumers. There were total of 23 participants from Malaysia, Egypt, Denmark, Japan and Taiwan who joined this course. Lectures were given by lecturers, researchers and professionals from different countries such as Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, France, United Kingdom, Egypt and Vietnam. These lectures were on the traditional medicine and acceptance of the practice by the public from each country. Throughout the lectures, we realized that the traditional medicine was influenced by the royal family and ancestors who have discovered and practised it, which mostly made up of herbal and natural plants back hundreds of years ago. It was such a shock for us to know that most of the jamu used in Indonesia were not based on scientific evidence but based on the believing in their ancestors. This is such a big challenge for us in Malaysia; we need scientific evidence to prove the therapeutic effects of plants. However, currently, research is also carried out to study the effectiveness, safety and quality of traditional medicine for the use of humans in Indonesia. Besides that, we’ve learnt the indication and function of many plants that are used as jamu and remedies in treating, maintaining and preventing many health conditions. The best part was we got the chance to drink and taste natural jamu which obviously, taste bitter mostly.

After a week of lectures, we started to go for field trips such as Jamu Gendong, PT Java Plant Herbal Extraction, Center of Research & Development of Medicinal Plants and Traditional Plants and Jamu Industry that has exposed us to process and production of jamu, traditionally or pharmaceutically. Traditionally, jamu is produced in liquid form and sold in a village by mostly women that carry the jamu on their back (Jamu Gendong). Nowadays, many other forms are used such as instant jamu, topical, cosmetics and others. Industrially, modern products of jamu such as herbal drinks, rubbing oil and supplements are produced in the same manner in Malaysia. Pharmaceutical industry companies prepare these by percolation, evaporation, sterilization and dying.

This course has given us so much in knowledge and friendship. Who would’ve known that friendship can be built in just two weeks? We’ve met many people - a friendly and easy-going facilitator and other participants that were really nice and good to us throughout the course. The places that we have visited in Yogyakarta were all wonderful with mesmerizing views and memories. We were lucky to experience the Indonesian culture such as gamelan, Javanese traditional dance and thanksgiving ceremony, making our own batik and paddy planting.

Written by :

Mir Elaiza Binti Amir, Participant