Kuliah akan segera masuk. Tantangan hidup sesungguhnya baru akan dimulai. Setelah masa AID selesai dengan meninggalkan kesan baik, Arya bertemu dengan sosok yang akan menjadi studi advisornya, yaitu Prof. Kai Jansen. Sosok yang merupakan blasteran dari Belanda-Jepang ini akan menjadi pemandu kehidupan akademiknya selama menempuh studi S2.
Memasuki ruang kelas kosong, Arya bertemu dengan sosoknya yang baru dia ketahui beberapa hari lalu saat di kirim email oleh pihak fakultas.
“Excuse me, is this with Prof Kai Jansen?” ucap Arya saat melihat seorang pria satu-satunya di ruangan tersebut. Mendengar suara itu, sosok yang sedang menulis sesuatu di meja kini menatap Arya, “Oh, hy. Are you Arya?”
“That's right, Prof. I'm Arya.” Lalu dihampirinya sosok yang akan menjadi penasihat studinya tersebut. Arya tersenyum dan menyodorkan tangannya untuk bersalaman. Sang professor membalasnya tanpa basa-basi.
“You are from Indonesia, right?” tanya beliau sambil masih menulis di sebuah kertas.
“That's right Prof,”
Sang professor lalu sedikit berbasa-basi, “I really miss your country, Arya. I want to go back to Bali,”
Mendengar itu, Arya merasa sumringah, “Oh really? It's a really fun place to visit.”
“Hahaha. Unfortunately at that time I was not on holiday, but was doing research collaboration with the government.”
“Oh wow! It's very good.”
Sang professor lalu mengakhiri kegiatan menulisnya, dan fokus menatap Arya sejenak. “Okay, let's get started.”
Arya mengangguk pelan. Dia siap mendengarkan semua yang akan terucap.
“I'm sure you already know from reading the information you've read while researching for further studies here that the Master's program at Wageningen University & Research uses a two-year term system. Students will focus on intensive learning in 1-2 courses every 4-8 weeks. The curriculum adopts the ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), with a load of 12 ECTS per term.”
Mendengar penjelasan umum itu, Arya hanya tersenyum dan mengangguk.
Beliau lalu bertanya lebih dulu, “But before we continue discussing the course, what is your ultimate goal in studying Environmental Science? And what do you think the title of your thesis will be?”
Arya tersenyum dan tidak butuh waktu lama untuk menjawabnya, "Yes, Professor. If you're asking about my goals, I want to combine my background as a food technology graduate with Environmental Science. This is indeed interdisciplinary, because I believe innovation isn't just about linear science. Innovation requires a combination of various disciplines to produce something new. Someday, I want to manage waste from human use, such as food and plastic waste, so it doesn't harm the environment."
Namun bicara soal thesis, Arya melihat langit-langit ruangan sejenak. Dia belum sepenuhnya terpikirkan secara spesifik. Tapi dia tahu akan berada di topik apa. “Hmm, Maybe I will discuss the realm of public policy in the environment.”
Mendengar keterangan itu, sang professor terlihat bungah dan senang. “Wow, that's a really cool intention. It should be like that.” Beliau melanjutkan, “If that's your mindset, it won't take long. Please take a look at the courses you'll be studying in this initial period.”
Diberikannya sebuah kertas, tertera berbagai nama mata kuliah beserta keterangannya secara spesifik. Tulisan di kertas itu sebagai berikut :
Basic/Compulsory Courses (Initial Period):
Principles of Environmental Science (6 ECTS): A fundamental course to understand the basic framework of environmental science.
The Carbon Dilemma (6 ECTS): Examines carbon aspects and their relationship to environmental policy.
Environmental Quality and Governance (6 ECTS): Focuses on environmental governance and quality standards.
Environmental Systems Analysis: Methods & Applications (6 ECTS): A key course that explores environmental systems analysis methods.
Research Methods in Environmental Science (6 ECTS): A preparatory course for research methods.
Additional Courses/Beginning of the Academic Year:
Academic Consultancy Training (9 ECTS): Academic consulting training.
Management Skills (1.5 ECTS): Management skills.
Intercultural Communication Skills (1.5 ECTS): Intercultural communication skills.
Agroecology (6 ECTS): Often taken at the beginning of the academic year.
Melihat nama-nama itu, Arya mengangguk tanpa bertanya apapun lagi. “I'm ready for everything, prof.”
Sang study advisor lalu kembali memastikan, “Are there any additional courses you would like to take?”Arya kembali melihat kertas tadi, mencoba berpikir sebelum mengambil keputusan.
Setelah memikirkannya sesaat, dia tau harus memilih tambahan yang mana. “Agroecology, seems enough.”
Tanpa berlama-lama, Prof Kai menyetujuinya, “Okay, A wise choice for the first semester. But you'll need to be diligent and pursue the material somewhat independently. There are some introductory topics that may take time to understand.”
“Ready, Professor. Thank you for your guidance.” tutupnya sambil tersenyum.