UMN Communications Faculty Students Participate in Dining Etiquette Training: Essential Skills for Young Professionals

Dining etiquette class in action. (Doc. UMN)

Tangerang, (November 3, 2025) – The Etiquette and Communication course under the Faculty of Communication Sciences (Fakultas Ilmu Komunikasi/FIKOM) UMN collaborated with the UMN Hospitality Program to hold a practical training session titled “Dining Etiquette for Young Professionals.” The activity was held on December 2–3, 2025, providing students with hands-on practice in professional dining etiquette, which is often overlooked.

Etiquette is an integral part of character building, unlike ethics, which focuses on right and wrong. The Communication and Etiquette course focuses on professional etiquette and provides students with hands-on practice. This course is also essential and part of students’ education, encouraging professionalism, politeness, and personal branding.

“In international social settings, dining etiquette is one of the strategies a person uses to present themselves at the table, from eating rules and body position to communication style. We emphasize various small things to students, from arriving on time to choosing formal attire appropriate for the occasion,” Dr. Henilia Yulita SE., MM., M.I.Kom., coordinator of the Communication and Etiquette course, said.

For Henilia, this fundamental knowledge can help students become more confident, enabling them to communicate better and always be prepared when building relationships with the surrounding community. Additionally, proper etiquette can enhance credibility in social interactions and improve students’ professionalism.

Faculty of Communications students practicing dining etiquette at UMN Hospitality. (Doc. UMN)

In this activity, students learned and practiced various skills, including dining etiquette, using cutlery, holding and drinking water, using napkins, and deportment. Students gained a full experience and practiced dining etiquette from entrée (appetizer) to dessert.

“My hope is that students who have participated in this event will understand the proper way to eat using cutlery and behave professionally at the dinner table. With this, when they meet and interact with people, they will not feel awkward and will already be accustomed to it,” said Henilia.

Henilia also hopes that through this activity, strategic communication students can build and improve their personal branding. Of course, with this training, students are also expected to learn to appreciate others by how they interact with those around them during meals. For Henilia, this is crucial for building student networks in the professional world and industry.

By Rachel Tiffany | UMN News Service

English translation by Levina Chrestella Theodora

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