FORCLIME has been organizing internship programmes for students from universities in Tanah Papua since 2019. In 2022, ten students joined the programme, comprising one from Cenderawasih University, two from Ottow Geissler University Papua, one from Musamus University Merauke and six from the University of Papua. This internship programme was linked to the Ministry of Education’s universities programme – independent study, independent campus (Merdeka Belajar, Kampus Merdeka - MBKM), which follows the reporting system of each university.

After participating in the FORCLIME internship programme for six months, Lasarus Mora and Ledrik Buiney, both students from the University of Ottow Geissler Papua (OUGP), shared their experiences with the Head of the Forestry Study Programme, lecturers and final year students of the university in the OUGP Meeting Room in Jayapura, Papua on 28 February 2023. This hybrid (online and offline) event, was also attended by two FORCLIME managers for the strategic areas of Sustainable Forest Management and Human Capacity Development, as well as by FORCLIME technical staff members based in Papua.

During their presentation, Lasarus and Ledrik explained the various lessons that they had learned during their internship, which encompassed technical activities such as the dissemination of information on customary forests through the application of the principles of Free, Prior Informed Consent (FPIC); forest area planning in relation to the preparation of the Long Term Management Plan (RPHJP) document for Forest Management Units (KPH); Preparation of the Papua Provincial Level Forestry Plan (RKTP); assessments of the effectiveness of area management through the use of the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tools (METT) approach; digital marketing and e-commerce training for the marketing of non-timber forest products; as well as efforts to utilize non-timber forest products that are being undertaken by community groups in supported villages.

“During my internship at FORCLIME, I put into practice what I had learned at the university and also learned a number of new things that I had not learned on campus. I am grateful that through this programme, my capacities and skills have been able to develop and will become my assets in the future when I enter the world of work,” Lasarus said of his internship.

Lasarus' statement was reemphasized by the Head of the Forestry Study Program, Ir. Elisabeth Payung Allo, M.Sc., who explained that through the FORCLIME Internship Programme, students gain the experience to be able to apply the knowledge that they obtain and also learn about other areas that later prove highly useful in increasing student capacities and experiences as they enter the real world of work. "The big change can be seen in the increased levels of self-confidence in students who complete internships," she added.

For more information, please contact:
Theodora F. Resubun, Advisor for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua Province
Mohammad Sidiq, Strategic Area Manager for Sustainable Forest Management and Coordinator for Papua and West Papua Provinces