EduAsiaNews, Malang — Universitas Negeri Malang (UM) has once again demonstrated its commitment to strengthening the internationalization of education through the Study Abroad Program Walailak University 2026. After completing six months of intensive study, 13 students from Walailak University, Thailand, achieved remarkable progress in mastering the Indonesian language and deepening their understanding of Indonesia’s diverse cultural heritage. The program, organized by the Center for Indonesian Language and Culture Studies (PSBBI) at UM, officially concluded on Thursday (June 11) at the AVA Hall, D14 Building, 2nd Floor, Faculty of Letters, UM.
The success of these international students highlights how international programs not only enhance language proficiency but also foster intercultural understanding, a competency that is increasingly essential in today’s globalized world. Throughout the program, participants engaged in intensive Indonesian language learning while exploring various aspects of Indonesian culture through academic activities and hands-on cultural experiences.
The Director of PSBBI UM, Prof. Dr. Gatut Susanto, M.M., M.Pd., expressed appreciation for the participants’ progress throughout the program. According to him, the students from Walailak University demonstrated significant improvement in their Indonesian language skills and successfully adapted to Indonesia’s academic and social environment.
“Our collaboration with Walailak University has been ongoing since 2010 and has now entered its sixteenth year. We are grateful that this program continues to thrive and provide benefits for both institutions,” said Gatut.
He explained that the program serves not only as a language-learning platform for international students but also as a space for exchanging knowledge, experiences, and cultural values between Indonesia and Thailand. Through cross-cultural interactions, students gain international exposure that strengthens their global competencies.
The benefits of the program were also directly experienced by the participants. In addition to improving their communication skills in Indonesian, students gained firsthand experience living in a different cultural environment. Such experiences broaden international perspectives, enhance adaptability, and cultivate mutual respect for cultural diversity.
Representing Walailak University, Pensri Panich noted that the students’ development throughout the program was exceptionally rapid. According to her, the learning experiences at UM had a positive impact on both the participants’ academic abilities and character development.
“Within six months, our students have progressed tremendously. They not only learned the Indonesian language but also gained valuable cultural experiences during their time in Indonesia,” she remarked.
The program’s closing ceremony was enlivened by elective performances of gamelan music and traditional Indonesian dances presented by the Walailak University students themselves. The performances reflected the participants’ success in understanding and appreciating Indonesian culture after completing one semester of study.
Their ability to perform Indonesian traditional arts before members of the university community demonstrated that their learning extended beyond theoretical knowledge and enabled them to engage directly with cultural practices. This achievement serves as a key indicator of the program’s success in fostering deeper intercultural understanding.
Through this Study Abroad Program, UM and Walailak University continue to strengthen international collaboration in the fields of education, language, and culture. The partnership is expected to create more opportunities for student exchanges, joint research initiatives, and the expansion of global academic networks in the future.
The program also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) by providing inclusive and high-quality international learning experiences, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through the strengthening of higher education collaboration between Indonesia and Thailand to promote knowledge exchange and mutual understanding among nations.
