Delving into the World of Research: Dr. Phil’s Story. Aang Koswara’s Post-Doctoral Journey in Germany

Taking a step beyond the boundaries of the Padjadjaran University campus, Dr. phil. Aang Koswara, dive into new challenges with a determination to develop knowledge, work, and collaborate across countries and cultures. This journey opens the gateway to greater knowledge, broadens academic horizons, and creates opportunities to make an impact on the global community. Aang Koswara has started his journey since obtaining a bachelor’s degree in the Public Relations study program at Fikom Unpad, then continued his master of science concentration in Human Resources Psychology at the Faculty of Psychology Unpad, and received a German Hanns Seidel Stiftung scholarship to continue his doctoral program in Interkulturelle Kommunikation (intercultural communication) at Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Germany. Since 2001, Aang has served as a lecturer in the Public Relations study program at Fikom Unpad. But not only being a lecturer, in 2010, Aang participated in a non-degree program conducted by the Institut für Kommunikationswissenschaft (Institute of Communication Sciences) Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, which focused on two subjects, namely Risk und Krisenkommunikation and The International Challenge of Corporate Communication. This non-degree program was one of the beginnings of Aang’s enjoyment in Germany and a precursor for him to continue his doctoral studies at the same university. While in Germany, it did not stop him from continuing to serve as a lecturer in the Public Relations Study Program at Fikom Unpad. During this time, guiding, testing thesis exams, and classroom learning still take place online. With a time zone difference of approximately 5(summer time) to 6 hours(winter time), Aang continues to strive to provide the best learning experience for students in the Public Relations study program at Fikom Unpad.

As a requirement to obtain his doctorate at Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, in 2022 Aang published his dissertation in the form of a book entitled “Corporate Culture Practices of German Corporations in the Host Country Indonesia“. The book discusses the cultural practices of German companies in Indonesia, analyzed from the perspectives of German employees, managers, and expatriates in Indonesia. Aang has a multidisciplinary academic background, he studied in the Public Relations study program in S1, continued to study Human Resources Psychology in S2, and finally studied Intercultural Communication in S3. The choice of academic fields is not without reason, Aang aims to learn from different fields of science so that in the end he can see from various perspectives. With this multidisciplinary background, Aang continued his journey in the world of research by becoming a post-doctoral fellow and conducting research entitled “Intercultural Communication Competence of Indonesian Elite Migrant Workers in Germany”. Aang has long had a desire to deepen research on intercultural communication and how his entire background from S1 to S3 can be a provision for him to conduct research based on various perspectives from different fields of science. Her doctoral and post-doctoral journey did not always go smoothly, there were many challenges that had to be faced, such as language, time management, and academic culture that was different from that in Indonesia. But he kept fighting and doing his best. “Starting with prayer, closing with prayer, the matter of results must be tawakal and sincere. Give our best in everything. We must rise again. It’s okay to step back a little so that the thrust is even stronger,” said Pak Aang when asked why he has a high desire to be able to continue his research journey despite the many challenges he has to face. Pak Aang’s post-doctoral program has just begun, and will continue while he conducts research in Germany. The uncertain timing of his completion does not deter him from continuing his journey there, he hopes that the results of his research will not only be useful for Germany, but also for Indonesia.

(JJC)