EduAsiaNews, Jember – International programs that bring together students from different countries serve not only as platforms for academic exchange but also as opportunities for meaningful cross-cultural experiences. Such was the experience of Pengiran Mohamed Zulhilmi, a Master of Teaching Primary student specializing in Education Mathematics at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), during his participation in The Inbound Mobility Exchanges Program at Universitas Jember (UNEJ).
Hilmi’s visit to Jember was part of the International Teaching Assistance (ASJAR) Program, which he joined alongside seven fellow UBD students. He and three other participants conducted teaching practicums at SD Labschool UNEJ, while the remaining four were assigned to SMA Negeri 2 Jember (SMADA).
Throughout the program, held from July 13 to 31, 2026, Hilmi expressed his appreciation for the comprehensive support provided by UNEJ, including comfortable accommodation, transportation during official activities, access to campus facilities, student mentoring, and intensive guidance from lecturers and program coordinators.
He was also impressed by the hospitality of SD Labschool UNEJ, the partner school where he completed his teaching practicum. According to Hilmi, the principal and teachers not only supported the teaching activities but also introduced the participants to Jember’s tourist attractions and local culinary specialties.
“Universiti Jember has provided excellent facilities throughout this program. In addition, the Head of SD Labschool took great care of our well-being by introducing us to the surrounding areas of Jember and its local cuisine. All of this allowed us to focus fully on the teaching and learning process,” he said during an interview at UNEJ ahead of his return to Brunei Darussalam on August 3, 2026.
For Hilmi, the opportunity to undertake a teaching practicum in Indonesia exceeded all expectations. Moreover, he personally financed his participation in the program as part of his commitment to gaining teaching and learning experience in a different educational environment.
He admitted that he was deeply touched by the warm welcome extended by the Universitas Jember community from the very first day of his arrival.
“Honestly, I was deeply moved. From the moment we arrived, the Universitas Jember community welcomed us like family. The lecturers, staff, and student buddies were always willing to help with warmth and kindness. Although being far from home and occasionally missing my family in Brunei, the hospitality we received made us feel comfortable from day one,” he said in Malay.
Initially, Hilmi came to Indonesia with a simple goal: to learn about the Indonesian education system while gaining practical teaching experience in an elementary school. However, the experience turned out to be far more enriching than he had anticipated. Beyond interacting with teachers and students, he built new friendships, immersed himself in the local culture, and gained a deeper understanding of everyday life in Jember.
One of his most memorable experiences occurred while teaching at SD Labschool UNEJ. The students’ curiosity about Brunei created a lively classroom atmosphere filled with questions about the country’s language, traditional cuisine, and daily life. According to Hilmi, these interactions made the learning process mutually beneficial, allowing students to broaden their horizons while enabling him to better understand how Indonesian children perceive other countries through their genuine curiosity.
Hilmi’s experiences in Jember extended beyond the classroom. He was also invited to perform during the First Graduation Ceremony of Universitas Jember for the 2026/2027 Academic Year, where he sang the Indonesian song Kota Ini Tak Sama Tanpamu before graduates and invited guests.
The performance became another unforgettable highlight of his stay at UNEJ. While the teaching practicum introduced him to Indonesia’s education system, the graduation ceremony provided him with an opportunity to engage more closely with campus life and share a meaningful moment with the university’s academic community.
During his stay in Jember, Hilmi also explored a variety of local culinary specialties, including bakso pentol, pecel, rawon, lumintu, spiced fried duck, and various Indonesian sambals. Among all the dishes he sampled, lumintu and fried duck became his favorites, while iced tea was the beverage he almost always ordered with his meals.
Hilmi noted that the differences between Indonesian and Bruneian cuisine became a memorable experience in themselves. Although he was initially surprised by the spiciness of Jember’s food, he gradually came to enjoy its distinctive flavors.
At the conclusion of the program, Hilmi expressed his sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to its success, including Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Universitas Jember, the lecturers, student buddies, partner schools, and the people of Jember, who welcomed the participants with exceptional warmth and hospitality. He expressed hope that the experience would serve as a bridge to strengthen academic cooperation and foster lasting friendship between Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam.
