Reported by: Samiksha M.
The International Buddhist College (IBC) organized its annual New Student Orientation Program (NSOP) to warmly welcome and introduce new students on 20 July 2023 for the Academic Year 2023/2024. As part of the program, IBC organized a one-day trip for the students to explore a few places of interest in Songkhla city. This report highlights the key moments of the program.
The orientation program commenced at 8.30 am with a warm and encouraging speech by Ven. Dr. Wei Wu or Shifu. Shifu shared some information about the establishment of IBC and encouraged the students to adapt themselves to the new environment and culture in Thailand. Then, Ven. Zhen Sheng took the opportunity to introduce the administrative aspects of the college such as visa, transportation, food and maintenance matters to the students by introducing the staff who are in charge of the related jobs. Following this, Ven. Zhen Ti delivered an informative academic briefing, detailing the college's academic structure, course offerings, and the support available to the students such as academic sponsorship. The students were asked to refer to the IBC website for the latest information about IBC. All academic matters can be referred to her for English medium and Sis. Siew Chin for Chinese medium. After that, Ven. Dr. Wei Wu introduced the Kalyānamitra concept to the students. The Kalyānamitra group is led by Sis. Gaik Yen from Penang, Malaysia and they will support the new students in all aspects. Later, she introduced her team members to the students. After the introductory and briefing sessions, all students were given a gift and we had a group photo before leaving for an excursion trip for the day. The Kalyānamitra group members from Penang, Malaysia also joined us for the trip.
Firstly, we visited Songkhla Beach. We spent some time here, enjoying the natural beauty of the beach. Next, we visited the observatory, located on a hilltop. At the observatory, we visited the planetarium, which offered an extraordinary learning experience. The experience was both inspiring and educational, allowing the students to broaden their knowledge of astronomy. The celestial wonders and mysteries of the universe unfolded before our eyes, leaving us amazed by the vastness of space. The hilltop location also provided a breathtaking view of the surrounding scenery, giving everyone a chance to marvel at the beauty of the city.
The final destination of the one-day trip was the Big Buddha Hat Yai Municipality Park, where the students visited the Big Buddha statue. The imposing statue stood tall and serene, exuding an air of tranquility. From the top of the hill, where the Big Buddha was situated, the students were treated to a mesmerizing panoramic view of Hat Yai City. On the way back to IBC, we also visited Dr. Fa Qing, one of the senior lecturers of IBC. He welcomed us warmly and treated us to some mangoes during our visit.
The one-day trip to Songkhla City was an enriching experience for all participants. It provided the incoming students with an opportunity to explore some of the city's significant places and landmarks, fostering a sense of appreciation for the cultural and natural beauty of the region. The excursion also served as an occasion for the students to forge a good relationship with their fellow classmates and the Kalyānamitra group members. The memories of this trip will undoubtedly remain with the students throughout their educational journey.
In conclusion, the New Students Orientation Program was a remarkable and successful beginning to the Academic Year 2023/2024. We would like to express our gratitude to IBC and all those who supported the program in one way or another. Hopefully, we may have a chance to join the program again in the future. Thank you all!
