Bandung–Sasamoto Kyoji, a master’s student from Hiroshima University, chose the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) as his research destination under the AIMS-HU Program (Asian International Mobility for Students Program). From August 28 to September 28, 2024, he conducted research at the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FTMD) ITB under the guidance of Dr. Asep Ridwan, a lecturer in materials science at FTMD.

Kyoji’s decision to choose Indonesia, specifically ITB, was influenced by the international research collaboration of Hiroshima University. “It all started when I was interested in the overseas collaborative research organized by Hiroshima University. He explained that I wanted to create a special opportunity to advance my research, so I chose ITB, which has ties to my laboratory,” he explained.

Kyoji’s educational background at his home university also influenced his choice to continue his research at FTMD. “During my undergraduate years, I belonged to the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Tottori University and the Department of Mechanical Systems Engineering at Hiroshima University. In my master’s course, I am researching materials informatics, so I thought I would apply to FTMD at ITB, which is closely related to that field.” he elaborated.

At FTMD, Kyoji was involved in research that required extensive data collection. “My research has just begun, it requires a lot of sample data. I brought several materials made under different conditions and measured their hardness and relative density. In this way, I will analyze the samples obtained in both the Hiroshima University and ITB processes using machine learning, with the ultimate goal of building a general-purpose predictive model.” he explained.

During his research, Kyoji received tremendous support from FTMD staff and students. “The most important thing I gained was help from many people at FTMD. Specifically, the technician, Rizky, was very helpful in conducting the experiments, and the academic staff, Salwa, also provided clear guidance regarding preparation,” he said.

Kyoji strongly recommends FTMD as a research destination for international students. “FTMD has a wide range of research areas and comprehensive facilities. Moreover, collaboration with other faculties in Indonesia is very active, and many professors have international experience. This also applies to the professor supervising me here. Therefore, I highly recommend FTMD to other international students,” he said.

One of the most memorable experiences for Kyoji during his time at ITB was the ability to engage in deep discussions in English. “In my lab in Japan, there are some foreign students, so we speak in English. However, at FTMD, the lecturers and the students are very fluent in English. So I could experience practical discussion in English in an environment where Japanese cannot be used,” Sasamoto explained.

This experience enriched his academic perspective and enhanced his ability to communicate globally. For Kyoji, conducting research at FTMD ITB was about academics and strengthening cross-cultural and scientific collaboration, which will be a crucial asset in his future research career.