UNAIR NEWS – Students from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) continue to make their mark on the international stage through their participation in the ASEAN Student Mobility Programme. This initiative, a collaboration between the ASEAN Student Mobility Programme and the ASEAN Universities Exhibition and Forum (AEF 2025), aims to foster innovation, leadership, and cross-border collaboration among ASEAN students.
Program overview and selection process
The ASEAN Student Mobility Programme 2025 is a hybrid event featuring two phases. The first phase, conducted virtually, ran from Tuesday, Feb 11, 2025 to Tuesday, Feb 17, 2025, providing participants with preparatory sessions and preliminary discussions. The second phase, held in person from Wednesday, Feb 19, 2025, to Tuesday, Feb 25, 2025, saw participants assigned to 14 universities across Malaysia before the main event.
Farah Sutia Adelia, Rifayani Nurul Afra, and Inzala Astibati Shuffah were chosen to represent UNAIR in this prestigious program. The three students, all from the Islamic Economics program at the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), successfully passed a rigorous selection process conducted by Airlangga Global Engagement (AGE). The selection process included nominations, followed by an assessment of applicants’ CVs, English proficiency certificates, academic transcripts, and motivation essays.
Student experiences
The UNAIR participants were placed at different host universities in Malaysia: Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), and Universiti Malaya (UM). Over the course of five days, they engaged in a variety of activities, ranging from academic sessions and cultural exchanges to competitions with fellow ASEAN students.
At UPSI, Afra participated in an innovation workshop, cultural exploration activities, and immersive local experiences, including visits to a wildlife conservation center and bustling night markets. At UNITEN, Adelia took part in SDG-based innovation initiatives and leadership discussions. Meanwhile, Shuffah at UM actively contributed to academic forums and intercultural events.
The final two days of the program brought all participants together at Sunway Resort Hotel for the grand event of AEF 2025. The agenda featured seminars, a university exhibition, and the final rounds of two key competitions: the ASEAN Young Speaker Contest and the ASEAN Future Innovators Challenge.
During the closing ceremony, FEB student Afra received the Best Leadership Award in recognition of her exceptional contributions throughout the program. “Honestly, I was completely taken aback—I never imagined I would receive such an award,” Afra expressed.
Challenges and rewards
One of the major challenges UNAIR students encountered was overcoming language barriers. Given the diverse backgrounds and nationalities of participants, differences in accents and communication styles initially posed difficulties. However, this challenge ultimately enriched the experience, pushing students to enhance their communication skills and adaptability within a multicultural environment.
Beyond overcoming linguistic hurdles, the program provided invaluable benefits, including improved English proficiency, opportunities for cross-border collaboration on innovative SDG-based solutions, and significant academic and cultural exposure in an international setting.
Adelia highlighted the program’s lasting impact, particularly in fostering a deeper understanding of both the commonalities and diversity within ASEAN while recognizing the region’s vast potential. “The diversity is what made this program unforgettable. I now see my fellow participants as family,” she shared.
Author: Rosa Maharani Editor: Yulia Rohmawati
