August 26, 2026, International students of Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Alauddin Makassar, Saadah and Ilham Jehleh, participated in the Raden Intan Seasonal School (RISS) 2026, which was organized by UIN Raden Intan Lampung and was held online via Zoom Meeting on Wednesday (August 26, 2026).
Under the theme “Building Bridges Through Culture, Service, and Global Citizenship,” the program provided a platform for participants to exchange experiences and perspectives on cultural diversity, international experiences, and the importance of developing cross-cultural understanding.
The program was opened by Fitrah Auliya Ansar, Ph.D., Head of the International Office of UIN Raden Intan Lampung. The event featured two international speakers, Shunsuke Sakakibara, M.A., an international volunteer and journalist from Japan, and Fatemah Madid, Ph.D., from Queen’s University Belfast, United Kingdom.
Both speakers shared their experiences of living and studying in different cultural environments. Their stories highlighted how things considered “normal” in one culture did not necessarily have the same meaning or significance in another.
The speakers emphasized the importance of being curious before making judgments, having the courage to ask questions when encountering cultural differences, and recognizing that making mistakes in an unfamiliar environment was part of the learning process. They also highlighted that cross-cultural learning could take place not only through international travel but also through interactions with people from different ethnic, religious, linguistic, and social backgrounds.
For Saadah, an international student from Thailand at UIN Alauddin Makassar, participating in RISS 2026 was an engaging and valuable experience that broadened her understanding of Indonesian culture and language. She expressed her appreciation for the program, saying:
“I was very happy to participate in this activity. In my opinion, this activity was very interesting and beneficial because it gave me the opportunity to learn about various experiences and perspectives of foreign nationals regarding Indonesian culture and language. I hope activities like this will continue to be held in the future.”
The participation of Saadah and Ilham Jehleh in RISS 2026 became part of UIN Alauddin Makassar’s efforts to provide international students with opportunities to expand their networks, exchange perspectives, and strengthen cross-cultural understanding. The program also supported the university’s commitment to advancing internationalization through academic interaction and collaboration among higher education institutions.
