We introduce Hitomi Nakayama. She is originally from Kyoto, Japan. She is an international student under Double Degree Master Program 2022-2024 between Kyoto University Japan and IPB University. During her exchange year, from August 2022 to July 2023, she was staying in Bogor during and studying the Master Program’s Resource and Environmental Economics (ESL), IPB University.

We asked her why she decided to go study abroad: “I love to discover new and different cultures. I also came here for 1 year because I thought that if I really wanted to experience what it is like to live in a country.”

She also told us about why she specifically chose IPB University at Bogor: “It is known that IPB University is the best university in Indonesia for agricultural-related topics, so I really wanted to see for myself.”

Her thesis title is “Does Social Forestry in Indonesia Contribute to Income Stability and Sustainable Forest Usage? Evidence from Tombo Village and Cibulao village. During her field work, she stayed several weeks in both villages to conduct coffee farmers’ surveys and staying with the local communities.

She is very happy as she has a chance to explore both social and academic life in IPB University as well as earn new experience.