“You Can, We Can, at UKM!” is the tagline of the 46 IISMA UKM awardees that is often mentioned on various occasions. This tagline describes the various things that can be achieved while studying at one of Malaysia’s top universities, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. The 46 awardees are Indonesian students who get the opportunity to study at the university with funding assistance from the Indonesian government through the Indonesian International Students Mobility Awards program or better known as IISMA.

Through the cooperation of the IISMA program and UKM Global, we managed to plan and organize various activities to showcase and share insights into Indonesian culture. Although there were some similarities in customs and cultures, this was not a major barrier to the implementation of the events planned. ARUNIKA 3.0 and Meet and Greet International with International Students (MAGNET) Booth can be a good reflection of that statement.

Picture 1. A group photo of IISMA UKM 2024 awardees.

ARUNIKA 3.0: Discovering Indonesia’s Rich Culture

The event, designed as a celebration of Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage, ARUNIKA 3.0 in sanskrit-invited students from Kolej Ibu Zain (KIZ) and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) dormitories with the theme of “bajigur”, a traditional drink from West Java that symbolizes warmth, healing, and warmth. Held at the KIZ lobby on November 17, 2024, the event offered an immersive experience of Indonesian traditions through various performances ranging from dance and poetry to a live demonstration of bajigur making. At various times, some people from the audience were also invited to join the stage.

Figure 2: Two audience members participating in the bajigur-making demonstration.

In addition to performances and demonstrations, we also prepared various booths to showcase traditional Indonesian clothing, culinary, and arts from various regions for guests to enjoy. ARUNIKA 3.0 is expected to not only provide entertainment to its audience but also to be a bridge that connects various individuals to exchange culture, especially Indonesian culture, to students and other guests at UKM.

Gambar 3. Hearing booth di ARUNIKA 3.0

MAGNET Booth

During the “Meet and Greet with International Students in Malaysia” event organized by the National Defense University of Malaysia (UPNM) at Putrajaya Botanical Gardens on 27 November 2024, UKM was selected to exhibit an Indonesian-themed booth. As a representative of UKM, IISMA UKM 2024, with the help of other Indonesian students, carried the theme “Indonesia: A Mosaic of Culture”. The booth focused on vision, hearing, and taste, allowing visitors to explore Indonesian culture through sensory engagement.

Picture 5. Vision booth with traditional Indonesian clothing and accessories at MAGNET 2024.

The meaning of the MAGNET booth goes beyond cultural appreciation. It provides an opportunity for students from different backgrounds to foster friendship and understanding between them. The event was also attended by the Honorable Dato’ Seri Diraja Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir, Minister of Higher Education Malaysia, who symbolized the importance of cultural exchange initiatives such as this. With its interactive approach and participation, MAGNET succeeded in strengthening the cultural bonds between Indonesian students and the international academic community in Malaysia. By celebrating Indonesia’s artistic and culinary traditions, the booth not only showcased national pride but also strengthened the spirit of unity and inclusivity among international students.

IISMA UKM 2024 gained a lot of experience and insight during our study at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. Through ARUNIKA 3.0 and MAGNET Booth we worked together to create an opportunity for fellow students and academics in Malaysia to learn more about and explore Indonesian culture.