Ahmad Zakwaan Haniif Herefa, an Aerospace Engineering student from Institut Teknologi Bandung, is currently pursuing his long-time dream through an exchange program at Tohoku University, Japan.
Robotics and aerospace engineering have always been at the core of Dzakwaan’s interests. Alongside his passion for technology, he enjoys playing ping pong and exploring new places. Since high school, studying abroad—especially in Japan—had been his dream. “I admire Japan’s clean cities and advanced technology,” he shared. “I really wanted to experience living and studying here.”
After spending nearly two months in Japan, Dzakwaan describes the experience as eye-opening. From the environment and culture to the overall quality of life, Japan felt very different from Indonesia. He has also built friendships with international students at Tohoku University, which strengthened his global communication skills and appreciation for Japan’s culture of discipline.
Academically, the experience has been equally exciting. His classes and research are conducted fully in English, making it easier for him to follow discussions and collaborate. Studying in an international space robotics laboratory alongside undergraduate, master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral researchers has been one of the most inspiring parts of his journey.
Despite having limited Japanese proficiency, Dzakwaan found that English played a far more crucial role in the exchange process. From administrative requirements and registration—often involving English proficiency certificates such as IELTS, TOEFL, or TOEIC—to university classes, research activities, and social interactions, English became the main bridge throughout his exchange experience.
“English skills are the key to unlocking global opportunity.”
Reflecting on his journey, Dzakwaan encourages others to dream boldly and take action. “The most important thing is to have the courage to dream and try. Not everyone has the courage to do that. It’s better to try and fail than fail to try.”
