Who determines the SCS projects?
- Faculty workshops coordinated by LPPM determine the projects for each semester. Faculty lecturers then put forward proposals in consultation with students. Communities may approach UGM, or alternatively programs may be designed to meet the conditions set by specific donors. Most projects are semester specific, although more complex projects may roll over for number of semesters. That said, it is really you and your student group (unit) that determine what projects that you will work on, as the details of SCS activities are worked out with the host community during the initial two weeks of the program.
Who participates in SCS?
- All UGM undergraduate students must complete the SCS semester, usually in their final year of study. A typical SCS unit will consist of 30 students drawn from four disciplinary clusters. This group is then sub-divided into smaller teams of 5-6 people. A typical project may be located in ‘Village A’ with the 30 participants then divided into smaller units that are placed in four or five sub-village units.
Do I choose what project I will join?
- Yes and no. Each semester approximately six to ten projects will be available. However, the announcement of projects is only made approximately two weeks prior to departure for the field. Applicants cannot, therefore, choose their projects prior to departure from abroad. Students will be consulted on their preferences for field placements. However, final placement is at the discretion of ACICIS staff. While all efforts are made to accommodate student preference, ACICIS risk management and pastoral care requirements are taken into account. The quota system (whereby each unit must consist of a minimum number of participants from four discipline clusters), also influences placement decisions.
Where will the project be located and how will I get there?
- Projects will be located in the province of Yogyakarta. No site will be more than two hours from the UGM campus. You will travel to the site with your unit. This will be arranged during the briefing prior to departure.
Do I have to pay for rent and meals in the village?
- No. The sub-unit pays for all of this out of money which ACICIS pays to LPPM. However, the group budget for meals is usually not enough, so students may be asked to top it up over the course of the program. The sum is marginal.
Where will I live?
- During the first six-weeks of the program, you will rent a room in a boarding house close to Gadjah Mada University (UGM). You may elect to maintain this room for the entire semester, or you may move out when you depart for the village. In the village, you may be placed with a host family or the sub-unit may be allocated a house which becomes a communal living space. Male and female students are housed separately in line with local norms. During the pre-departure briefing, your unit coordinator will tell you all the things that you will need to take to the site (for example, students may be told that they will need sleeping mats, sheets, towels etc.). ACICIS staff will assist DSIP students in getting all of this organized. For more information about accommodation options near UGM, see here.
How do I get around in the village?
- In the village you do not need transportation as everything is very close. It is not always easy, however, to arrange transport in and out of the field placement sites. Students may return to the city (or UGM) by public transport (bus or train), but it may take a few connections. Usually, a fellow student with a motorbike will give students a ride back into town if necessary. You may take a motorbike to the village, but it is not recommended.
Will I be the only ACICIS student in my unit?
- It will depend on how many ACICIS students participate in the SCS (Student Community Service) stream. Should there be enough students participating, there is a possibility that more than one students will be placed in the same unit.
What if I do not want to take all my belongings to the Field Placement site?
- You can box them up and make arrangements to store them with ACICIS or a friend in Yogyakarta. If you would like to take a bicycle or other large items to the village, hiring a ute for a couple of hours is relatively cheap.
Will I be able to buy necessities in the village?
- Yes! There will be shops selling all the necessities of life (food, drinks, toiletries, groceries) and small restaurants (warung) where you can eat (although meals are included in the program). You can top up phone credit at the corner store and access Wi-Fi internet with a modem on your laptop (yes, you can take your laptop). You will learn to live without certain conveniences (such as hot water, a private bedroom, western-style toilet, muffins and espressos for breakfast), but otherwise life on-site is very pleasant.
Can we take a holiday during SCS or leave the location?
- No. The placement is eight weeks, fulltime. Students are allocated five days off during this time. You may not take a holiday or invite guests (visitors from overseas) to the village. Do not organize for family or friends to visit during this time. Technically you are not allowed to leave the site beyond your five day allowance. In reality, the rules tend to be a bit more flexible and students are able to head into to town for a half day or so if no activities are scheduled.