UNAIR NEWS – Cultural exchange is indispensable in this era of globalization. Through gadgets, we can access vast amounts of information with reach we never expected. However, the real experience with culture is basically an experience that cannot be replaced with any impressions gained from gadgets.
Therefore, the World University Association for Community Development (WUACD) Universitas Airlangga organizes international community development. Students may participate in the program with some requirements such as TOEFL. One of the target countries for this program is Thailand, as UNAIR cooperates with Prince of Songkhla University and Kasetsart University.
One of UNAIR students participated in the program was Nabila Putri Siswandini. For 5 days, from April 23 to 27, Nabila and nine other UNAIR students conducted the program with representatives from Prince of Songkhla University.
Memorable cross-cultural experience
Upon their arrival in Thailand, Nabila and her team were welcomed by representatives from Prince of Songkhla University with traditional Thai dances. UNAIR students also had the opportunity to showcase Indonesian culture through performances like the Maumere dance and traditional songs. During their stay, Nabila visited several notable places in Thailand, including the Folklore Museum and Wat Khu Tao Temple.
According to Nabila, the program offered numerous benefits. “The benefits I gained included knowledge transfer, cross-cultural understanding, and significant insights into how ASEAN countries can leverage local communities to develop their human resources,” she said.
Sharing ideas for Thailand’s local community development
For Nabila, the most memorable part of the program was visiting various local communities in Thailand. “It was very memorable when we were divided into groups and visited different local communities. We had the opportunity to discuss directly with them about how they are improving their communities and to exchange knowledge,” she remarked.
One of the communities Nabila and her team visited was a mini mango farm. In this case, the community was facing challenges in government support. So, her group suggested using social media to promote their business. It would make the information more accessible to the local government and foreign tourists.
Author: Afifah Alfina
Editor: Kehfti Al Mawalia
