Saturday, 2 August 2025 was the official arrival day for SUNTROPiS 2025. The committee members also known as Buddies warmly welcomed seven international participants who arrived at both Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan Airport, Balikpapan, and Aji Pangeran Tumenggung Pranoto Airport, Samarinda. The students came from various countries, including Algeria, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Tanzania, Thailand, Egypt, Myanmar, South Sudan, Ghana, Guinea, Pakistan, and Indonesia.

The first arrival of the day was from Algeria at 09:40 AM WITA in Balikpapan, followed by participants from Yemen and Tanzania who landed together at 12:00 PM WITA, also in Balikpapan. Later in the afternoon, a participant from Sri Lanka arrived at 2:10 PM WITA. Other participants also arrived at several times around the clock.

Meanwhile, several participants also landed at APT Pranoto Airport, Samarinda. A participant from Myanmar arrived early in the morning at 08:30 AM, followed by two participants from Thailand who arrived at 2:00 PM and 8:10 PM respectively. A participant from Pakistan landed at 6:00 PM, with other participants arriving throughout the day according to their respective flight schedules.

Upon arrival, each participant was warmly greeted and guided by their assigned buddy. The buddies assisted them in arranging transportation from the airport to the Universitas Mulawarman Dormitory in Samarinda. Different modes of transportation were used, including Sunjaya shuttle service, Balikpapan Cititrans (BCT), and private rental cars, depending on participants’ preferences and availability.

The welcoming process marked the beginning of an exciting journey for the international students, setting a positive tone for their upcoming academic and cultural experiences at Universitas Mulawarman through the SUNTROPiS 2025 program.

Reporter: Alifah Balqis Salamah