PBSI Student of UIN Jakarta Wins Best Paper Award at APPBIPA International Conference in Banten

FITK, UIN Online News — A seventh-semester student of the Indonesian Language and Literature Education (PBSI) Study Program, Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training (FITK), UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, has earned the Best Paper Award at the APPBIPA Banten International Conference, held on Friday (January 17, 2026). The achievement reflects UIN Jakarta's continued commitment to fostering academic excellence and research among its students.

The international conference brought together 199 participants and 40 paper presenters from several countries, including Indonesia, Japan, China, South Korea, and Egypt. The event was jointly organized by Buddhi Dharma University Tangerang, the Tangerang City Communication and Information Office, the Boen Tek Bio Association, Muhammadiyah University of Tangerang, and UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta.

The award-winning paper was authored by Nayla Autar as the lead author in collaboration with Tety Rukmana, under the supervision of Rifa Nur'afia, M.Hum., and Dr. M. Sidiq, M.A., M.Pd. Entitled "Utilizing Cultural Markets as Authentic Learning Spaces in Indonesian for Foreign Speakers (BIPA) Instruction," the study explores how experiential learning and local cultural engagement can enhance Indonesian language education for international learners.

Employing a descriptive qualitative approach, the research examined BIPA students from Levels 1–7 who participated in the Cultural Market program at UIN Jakarta. Data were collected through open-ended questionnaires and analyzed qualitatively to evaluate participants' learning experiences. The findings revealed that the Cultural Market was perceived positively by international students, significantly improving their social interaction, Indonesian vocabulary acquisition, and understanding of Indonesian culture.

The Cultural Market itself serves as a project-based final assessment for the BIPA Teaching course within the PBSI Study Program. During the program, PBSI students act as language and cultural facilitators for international students from various universities, including UIN Jakarta, Muhammadiyah University Jakarta, UIN Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten, and UIN Walisongo Semarang. This immersive learning model allows foreign learners to practice Indonesian in authentic cultural settings while deepening their appreciation of local traditions.

Expressing her gratitude, Nayla Autar described the recognition as a meaningful milestone in her academic journey.

"This was my first experience participating in an international conference. I am grateful for the opportunity to meet outstanding academics and researchers whose innovative work has broadened my perspective. The experience has inspired me to continue learning and contributing to the field of BIPA education. I hope APPBIPA Banten continues to grow as an inspiring platform for collaboration."

The achievement underscores PBSI UIN Jakarta's growing reputation in Indonesian language education for international students and reflects the university's commitment to promoting innovative research with global relevance. It also demonstrates how authentic, culture-based learning can strengthen both language proficiency and cross-cultural understanding, while encouraging students to actively contribute to international academic discourse.