The Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS), hosted an International Research Internship Forum featuring Carmen Aquilar Cabello, a graduate student from the Master’s Program in Sustainable Economics at Wageningen University and Research, the Netherlands, who is currently conducting her research at FEB UNS.
In her opening remarks, Prof. Tri Mulyaningsih, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Academic and Research Affairs, stated that events such as this forum are part of FEB’s ongoing internationalization efforts. She emphasized that FEB UNS is continuously developing engaging academic programs to enhance the learning experience of students enrolled in its International Undergraduate Program, particularly through improved access to student mobility opportunities.
According to Prof. Tri, FEB UNS currently offers exchange opportunities with its partner universities in the ASEAN region, including Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. In addition, the faculty has established collaborations with institutions in Taiwan and Russia that also offer student exchange programs.
“We also have an academic cooperation with a university in the Netherlands, enabling our students to participate in both short-term (one-semester) and long-term (one-year) mobility programs,” Prof. Tri explained.
She further elaborated that the faculty aims to provide broader access for international class students to study abroad through various formats, including short-term exchanges, long-term mobility, and double-degree programs.
In addition to presenting information about student exchange programs—both inbound and outbound—the forum also highlighted a current example of an inbound student: Carmen Aquilar Cabello from Wageningen University and Research, who is currently conducting research at FEB UNS.
“While earlier I spoke about outbound students, today we also welcome an example of an inbound student. Carmen is a graduate student conducting field research here at FEB UNS. Her presence demonstrates that international mobility comes in diverse forms, all of which aim to provide new academic and cultural experiences,” Prof. Tri stated.
Carmen was then invited to share an overview of her research activities at FEB UNS. Her study focuses on dietary patterns among Indonesian adolescents. “Indonesia provides an ideal context for this research, as countries experiencing economic growth tend to undergo a nutritional transition. That is, dietary habits often shift from traditional foods to more processed products. This change has been linked to rising obesity rates in nations transitioning toward developed status. Understanding the root causes early on is therefore essential,” she explained.
Carmen also shared insights into the academic and logistical processes she navigated as a Spanish student enrolled in a Dutch university while conducting fieldwork in Indonesia. Building on Carmen’s presentation, Prof. Tri further highlighted the interdisciplinary linkage between economics—particularly development economics—and public health, as exemplified in Carmen’s research.
At its core, the study of economics often aims to formulate effective and efficient public policies. In the context of public health, particularly regarding adolescent nutrition, this research seeks to contribute toward identifying appropriate policy recommendations that address emerging challenges within transitioning economies.