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Making Dreams of Studying in the U.S. a Reality: Zaki’s Global UGRAD Journey
Muhammad Zaki Fazansyah - IELS Speaker

Making Dreams of Studying in the U.S. a Reality: Zaki’s Global UGRAD Journey

Muhammad Zaki Fazansyah - IELS Speaker

Muhammad Zaki Fazansyah, a Biomedical Engineering student at ITB and Vice President of IEEE ITB SB (2024-2025), turned his aspiration of studying abroad into reality through the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD).
 
Fresh out of high school, Zaki made it his goal to study abroad. Inspired by his relatives, he wanted firsthand experience of education and culture in other countries. In August 2023, he applied for Global UGRAD, and in 2024, he departed to the U.S. to spend a semester at the University of South Dakota.
 
For Zaki, the program was much more than an academic opportunity. “Even though the topics were similar,” he explained, “it was insightful to see how technological advancements shaped education there. It definitely broadened my academic knowledge.”
 
Beyond academics, Zaki immersed himself in the social scene of a multicultural environment. “It was truly a cultural experience,” he said. Meeting people from around the world deepened his appreciation for diversity, while also strengthening his pride in Indonesian heritage. “I was eager to introduce my own culture to the people there.”
 
Through his journey with Global UGRAD, Zaki not only gained academic insight but also developed a broader worldview. His experience became a powerful chapter in his personal and academic growth, one he later shared as a speaker in the IELS Insight Series to inspire other students dreaming of global opportunities.
 

✍️ Content Written by Valerine Aubrey Surjadi
🎨 Design by Zainufri Aziz

 

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