The International Office of Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Alauddin Makassar held an Indonesian for Foreign Speakers (BIPA) session on Friday (9/10/2026). The session brought together international students from Sudan and Thailand, along with representatives of the English Language and Literature Study Program and the English Language Education Study Program.

BIPA was designed to help international students feel more confident using Indonesian in their daily lives.

Language is more than a tool for communication. It is a bridge to the culture and values of the community where they study, and mastering it makes academic and social life in Indonesia easier to navigate.

That idea came to life in the session’s main discussion, an experience-sharing segment on the Community Service Program (KKN) in Selayar.

Two international students, Muzammil and Nassir, who had recently returned from their placement, told the group what it was like to live and work alongside local residents. Their stories showed how everyday conversation, even with limited vocabulary, can build trust and friendship far from campus.

The presence of the English Language and Literature Study Program and the English Language Education Study Program made the event a tangible example of collaboration across units within UIN Alauddin Makassar.

Their involvement opens space for exchanging knowledge and experience in the field of language, while enriching the learning process for all participants.

The session took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Participants sat together around a single table, allowing international students, local students, and facilitators to interact in a relaxed and open manner.

This atmosphere reflects that differences in national and cultural backgrounds are not barriers, but strengths that complement one another.

The International Office hopes to carry this spirit into its next activity. It announced that it will soon hold an International cultural day event, where students from different countries can share their traditions and learn about one another’s customs.

Ahmed, one of the international students, welcomed the plan.

“I think the event will be fun. We can get to know each other’s cultures better. Especially if many people come, particularly international students, it will be even more fun,” he said.

With activities like these, the International Office aims to make BIPA a regular program and to involve more students and study programs, so that UIN Alauddin Makassar remains a welcoming place for students from around the world.