The Japanese Literature Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FIB USU), conducted Monitoring and Evaluation (Monev) of the International Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) Internship Program as well as an international-scale Community Service at Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa, ANA, Okinawa, Japan. The activity, conducted from February 15–21, 2025, was part of the efforts of the Japanese Literature Program to monitor the implementation of the internship program while obtaining input regarding students' experiences during their activities in the Japanese work environment.

The internship program that was part of this activity was a collaboration between Go Gakko and the Japanese Literature Program FIB USU in organizing the Certified Internship Program. Based on the activity report, the cooperation was stipulated in MoU No. 011/GO GAKKO-MoU/VIII/2022 and 10608.1/UN5.1.R/KPM/2022. The program provided students with opportunities to gain direct work experience while fulfilling part of the academic process.

For students of the Japanese Literature Program, internship experience in Japan not only provided opportunities to apply the knowledge acquired during their studies but also enabled students to interact directly with Japanese society and use the Japanese language in a work environment. This experience became part of the learning process that connected academic knowledge with actual working conditions.

In its implementation, the Monev activity was conducted through a review of the work environment, interviews, and discussions with representatives of Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa, ANA, as well as students participating in the internship program. The Program team also reviewed the students' accommodation to obtain an overview of their conditions while undertaking the program in Japan.

One of the focuses of the activity was evaluating students' performance and ethics during the internship program. The team conducted interviews with students and discussed with hotel representatives the students' duties, performance, and ethics in the work environment. Feedback from the internship site served as important information for assessing students' experiences and identifying aspects that still needed to be developed.

The internship experience also provided students with opportunities to develop communication, teamwork, and responsibility skills. Through direct involvement in the Japanese work environment, students could practice the knowledge acquired during their studies while gaining experience in using the Japanese language and understanding Japanese culture in a professional setting.

The monitoring and evaluation activity was also directed toward supporting students' readiness to enter the workforce. By becoming familiar with the work environment directly, students gained an overview of job requirements as well as opportunities to develop interpersonal skills needed in a professional environment. This experience could also become part of the students' adaptation process to life and work culture in Japan.

The results of the monitoring and evaluation can subsequently serve as input for the development of learning and the curriculum of the Japanese Literature Program FIB USU. The activity report, interview results, and discussions provided information regarding student performance, including Japanese language proficiency and understanding of Japanese culture. This information can be used as a reference for developing courses and the curriculum in the future.

In addition to evaluating students, this activity also strengthened the relationship between the Japanese Literature Program FIB USU and the hospitality industry in Japan. Interaction with representatives of Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa, ANA, was part of the effort to establish institutional relationships that support the implementation of internship programs while creating opportunities for further cooperation in the future.

The activity documentation showed interactions between the Community Service team and expert staff and internship program coordinators of Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa, ANA. The team also presented a souvenir to the hotel management as part of the activity. In addition, the documentation showed activities with students as well as a review of the students' accommodation during the internship program.

This International Community Service activity was coordinated by Prof. Dr. Dra. T. Thyrhaya Zein, M.A., as the team leader, with Prof. Hamzon Situmorang, M.S., Ph.D., Alimansyar, S.S., M.A., Ph.D., Rani Arfianty, S.S., M.Phil., and Drs. Nandi S., M.Si., as members. The involvement of lecturers from the Japanese Literature Program was part of the implementation of monitoring, evaluation, and development of the international internship program.

Through the Monitoring and Evaluation of the International Internship Program at Oriental Hotel Okinawa Resort & Spa, ANA, the Japanese Literature Program FIB USU obtained an overview of the implementation of student internships in the Japanese work environment. Through direct reviews, interviews, and discussions with hotel representatives and students, the activity provided input regarding student performance, language use, cultural understanding, ethics, and readiness to enter the workforce. The results of the activity are expected to support the development of learning and the curriculum while strengthening the relationship between the Japanese Literature Program FIB USU and the hospitality industry in Japan.