International Student Cultural Day 2024 at UIN Jakarta: Celebrating Diversity and Cultural Heritage

Rektorat Building, UIN Online News— UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta successfully held the International Student Cultural Day 2024 on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at Temu Rasa Restaurant, Ciputat Tangerang Selatan. This lively event was attended by university leaders including Prof. Ali Munhanif, Vice Rector III, and Mr. Din Wahid, Ph.D., Vice Rector IV, Mr. Priyono, Head of the Office of Academic Administration, Cooperation, and Student Affairs, as well as Mr. Juanda Naim, Head of the Office of General and Institutional Administration. With the theme "Introduction to Indonesian Culinary Culture," this event became a platform for various cultures to meet through the presentation of typical Indonesian culinary delights.

The event participants, consisting of international students and students who had participated in student mobility programs to Malaysia in 2023, dazzled the audience by wearing traditional attire from their respective countries or regions. Students from Southern Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, South Africa, and The Gambia introduced themselves and their cultures, making the event even more colorful. "I am very happy to introduce our culture to friends from various countries," said Fatima, a student from The Gambia wearing her country's distinctive patterned clothing.

The main session of the event featured a presentation titled "The Culinary Heritage of Indonesia: Exploring the Typical Delicacies of the Archipelago." Participants were invited to learn more about the recipes, history, and philosophy of typical Indonesian foods such as soto banjar, gepuk daging kelapa (coconut beef smash), ayam bakar kecap (grilled chicken with sweet soy sauce), bacem tahu (sweet marinated tofu), tempe and telur (tempeh and eggs), and bubur kacang dan ketan hitam (black glutinous rice porridge) with coconut milk sauce. Not only that, the cooking process was demonstrated live on location, making the event more interactive and engaging. "Watching the cooking process of Indonesian food really broadened my horizons about the culinary diversity here," said Bayramov, a student from Turkmenistan.

Participants also enthusiastically participated in a quiz about Indonesian cuisine, competing to mention the names of foods based on the initials displayed on the screen. Five students reached the final round and received prizes. Poetry and song performances by international students further enlivened the atmosphere, adding to the camaraderie among the participants. "The artistic performances from various countries are very impressive; this is a rare opportunity that I truly appreciate," said Hasina, a student from Afghanistan.

The event was officially opened by the Head of the Office of AAKK, who emphasized the importance of respecting cultural differences and language development in strengthening brotherhood among nations. He also advised international students to continue to improve their academic quality and uphold the good name of UIN Jakarta and their home countries by obeying regulations and completing their education on time. "Cultural differences are treasures that we must preserve and maintain," he said.

After the official session, the event continued with a lunch together featuring Indonesian specialties, socializing, and ended with a group photo session. The International Student Cultural Day 2024 successfully became an effective platform for strengthening relationships among international students and Indonesian students, as well as strengthening a sense of togetherness among participants from various countries. "This event is very impressive. I feel closer to Indonesian culture and also friends from other countries. This is an experience I will never forget," said Omer, a student from Afghanistan.

(PIH/Faadhila Idris)