Universitas Indonesia (UI) held International Student Week 2024 with the theme “See the Color of the World,” on Friday, November 8, at Taman Lingkar, UI Library. The activity, which was attended by UI international students, aims to celebrate cultural diversity from various countries in the world. Head of the UI International Affairs Office, drg. Baiduri Widanarko, M.KKK, Ph.D, said that this event is a manifestation of UI’s commitment to embracing differences and advancing international cooperation in the fields of education and culture.
“Through International Student Week 2024, UI students can experience a world rich in uniqueness, togetherness, and solidarity. This activity not only focuses on academics, but also becomes a forum for students to improve their ability to adapt to local cultures. Foreign students can adapt to the environment in Indonesia, while for Indonesian students, they get to know more about cultures from various countries,” said drg. Baiduri.
With the theme “See the Color of the World”, this activity presents various events, such as a Fashion Show featuring traditional clothing from various countries, a Flag Parade and Marching Band, and Country Booth Exhibition that showcases cultural characteristics and tourism information in many countries. In the booth, there are seven stands divided by region, including South Asia, Middle East Asia, Central Asia, East Asia, North Africa, Sub Saharan Africa, Europe, Australia, Oceania, and Southeast Asia. In addition, students also showcase their musical, dance, and theater talents in the International Student Performances event.
UI Student Affairs Director, Dr. Badrul Munir, S.T., M.Eng.Sc., said that the 2024 International Student Week series adds to the excitement of internationalization at UI. “Not all students can do exchanges abroad, so this is an effort to introduce foreign cultures to local students. Since 2020, we have been helped by scholarships provided by the government and private partners to foreign students to pursue higher education at UI. This certainly adds to the international atmosphere on campus,” he said.
International Student Week 2024 is the culmination of the International Student Culture program which includes Sports Day and other cultural programs. This activity is not only a forum to strengthen international relations, but also enriches the academic and cultural experience for all UI academics and the wider community. The series of activities were closed with an Awarding Session for the winners of the competition and the Reels Competition which featured creative videos by international students.
International Student Week activities will be held continuously as an effort to increase public awareness of global contributions, especially in getting to know and appreciate the cultures of other countries. With the increasing number of interactions between nations on the UI campus, students are expected to understand the importance of diversity, mutual respect, and be able to strengthen cross-cultural collaboration for a more inclusive and harmonious future.
