Makassar, October 06, 2025 — Magister Program of the English Education Department at Alauddin State Islamic University Makassar, in collaboration with the International Office, successfully held a Sharing Session titled “Beyond Borders: Building a Career Abroad” at the Meeting Room, 1st Floor, Rectorate. The event featured Maikara Tamihana, Manager of Human Resource Northern Region at Thomas Foods International Australia (TFI) — one of Australia’s largest family-owned food processing companies, renowned for producing and exporting premium-quality meat products such as beef, lamb, mutton, and goat meat to markets across the globe.
The session was moderated by Dr. Rosma Tami, S.Ag., M.Sc., M.A., Head of the Department of English Language and Literature, and was also attended by Riswandi, S.Hum., an alumnus of the department who currently works at Thomas Foods International. Riswandi shared his personal journey working in Australia, providing valuable insights and inspiring students to dream beyond boundaries.
This activity aims to provide students with insight into international career opportunities and strengthen cooperation between academia and global industry.
The event was officially inaugurated by Dr. Serliah Nur, M.Hum., M.Ed., who serves as the Head of the International Office and Secretary of the Master's Program in English Education. In her speech, she expressed appreciation for the collaboration and emphasized the importance of bridging academic learning with real-world global experiences. She stated:
“We are truly honored to host this event which marks an important step in building meaningful international collaboration. Today's session is an opportunity for us to learn, to connect, and to explore the possibilities of partnership between academia and industry, and between Indonesia and Australia.”
During the session, Maikara Tamihana shared his experience and information about the employment system in Australia, working holiday visas, visa requirements, transportation in Australia, salaries, living costs, and the qualifications needed to pursue a career at an international company such as Thomas Foods International. The participant’s enthusiasm was reflected in the various questions they asked about global work readiness and strategies for building international competencies.
This collaboration between Magister Program of the English Education Department and the International Office is hoped to open doors for lasting academic–industry partnerships, giving students and alumni more opportunities to gain professional experience and expand their international exposure.