Foreign Students Explore Culture Through Autumn Course at FISIP UPN Veteran Yogyakarta

Eighty-four students from 7 countries explored cultural diversity through the International Autumn Course event organized by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at the National Development University of Veteran Yogyakarta. The event, themed "Remarkably Revived," was held online for three days from September 12-14, 2022. This theme was chosen as a manifestation of the spirit of recovery post-COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the entire world, including Indonesia, over the past 2 years. "Rising remarkably, all sectors including higher education are ready to face the new normal post-pandemic world," said Fauzul Haq, Project Manager of the International Autumn Course 2022.

The International Autumn Course is an annual event of FISIP UPNVY that began in 2021. Previously, similar international student activities were also held through the cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia with the International Relations Study Program through the Indonesian Arts and Culture Scholarship (BSBI) program. One of the activities held was an international arts and culture course to introduce the diverse identities and personalities of the Indonesian nation.

Participants came from Russia, Belarus, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Pakistan, and Indonesia. This Autumn Course featured five inspirational speakers, such as Londo Kampung, an inspiring content creator; Eko Supriyanto, an amazing choreographer; and Saptopo Bambang Ilkodar, Prayudi, and Adi Suprapto, experienced lecturers from UPNVY. They all shared stories about how Indonesia's cultural heritage and tourism have recovered and developed, even after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The event was filled with various forms of interaction, including discussions with speakers and virtual tours in Yogyakarta. Additionally, participants were involved in quizzes about Indonesian cultural knowledge, such as painting traditional masks. Participants were also challenged to speak Javanese to add excitement to the event.

In his speech, the Rector of UPNVY, M. Irhas Effendi, hoped that the Autumn Course would provide new perspectives about Indonesia, especially Yogyakarta. Moreover, he wanted this event to foster international understanding. "Perhaps participants will forget what we, as organizers, said, but I hope they will never forget the experiences they gained," said Irhas. He also invited all participants to participate in rebuilding the world after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dean of FISIP UPNVY, Machya Astuti Dewi, also expressed joy because this event could still be held despite countries struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. "We planned, improvised, and adapted, and this is the result - we tried to provide an unforgettable virtual experience," said Machya.

Machya hoped that Autumn Course participants could make new friends and gain interesting and enjoyable knowledge. "Hopefully one day they will include Indonesia on their list of countries they want to visit," she added.

Throughout the event, many participants expressed their enthusiasm. For example, Pham Ha Kieu Oanh from Thu Dau Mot University in Vietnam said she gained meaningful and significant new perspectives. "From various discussions, I particularly liked the introduction to the city's culture and creativity. It's truly interesting, and I now know more about Indonesian culture," said Pham.

The same sentiment was shared by Valeriia Tsareva, a student from Tomsk State University in Russia, who felt joy during the event. She was deeply impressed by the beauty of Indonesian traditional music and dance. "It's incredibly beautiful; I'm amazed by the beauty of traditional dance and music. Oh, and the traditional mask painting workshop was also enjoyable," said Valeriia.