UMN Indonesian Experience 2026: A Learning Experience Beyond Borders

group photo of the participants of UMN Indonesian Experience 2026 with the Chairperson of the Foundation and the UMN Rectorate (Doc. UMN)

Tangerang, (23/01/2026) – UMN Indonesian Experience has been successfully held for a week at UMN. These program is followed by 9 countries with UMN’s partner universities, participant joined various activity from learning about Indonesian culture to major topics related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) 

UMN Indonesian Experience 2026 isn’t just a program to teach students about Indonesian culture. But rather this program is a proof of UMN’s commitment in implementing a collaborative and globally oriented higher education system. 

“I highly appreciate the universities involved and willing to collaborate with UMN in this program. This is certainly a great opportunity for educational institutions to provide new learning experiences for students, starting from global and cross-cultural perspectives to the development of globally competent individuals,” said Dr. Andrey Andoko, Rector of UMN.

For Andrey this experience is going to be memorable for the student’s education journey. The participants are not just gonna get new knowledge, but they also get new friends across the country. Andrey expects there’ll be more opportunities for broader collaboration that can have a positive impact on students, allowing them to learn beyond the classroom borders.

“I’m glad that the participants could join UMN Indonesian Experience 2026 for a week. I hope this program isn’t the finish line of collaboration, but it’s a new step for further collaboration that is stronger and much more”, says Prof. Dr. Friska Natalia, S.Kom., M.T., as The Vice Rector of Academics and Internationalitation. 

Friska also says that this program not only strengthens students’ academic abilities but also gives participants new cultural experiences and opportunities to build new friendships. Friska hopes that in the future, participants will continue to collaborate with UMN through initiatives such as student exchanges, or even pursue higher education at UMN

Peeking Through A Week at UMN Indonesian Experience 2026 

On Monday, (19/01) participants from 9 countries attended the opening ceremony of the UMN Indonesian Experience 2026. The opening event was held at the Function Hall, UMN Campus, and was officially opened by the Rector of UMN along with the Vice Rectors. Read the full story here!

Following the opening ceremony, participants took part in a series of activities, including getting to know the UMN campus more through a campus tour with UMN students. The first day’s activities were also enriched with learning sessions initiated by the UMN Humanities Study Program, where participants had the opportunity to explore more on  Indonesian culture, Indonesian language, and take part in various traditional Indonesian games

Participants take part in traditional Indonesian games (Doc. UMN)

“For me, joining UMN Indonesian Experience 2026 is really fun. I met a lot of new friends from across the country, and also learned something new about Indonesian culture starting from dance, cuisine, and art”, says Ghada Issa, one of master’s student from Al-Quds University, Palestine.  

Ghada herself enjoyed every moment learning about new culture, she didn’t just learn about Indonesian culture. Ghada also had a chance to learn cross-culture through other participants from other country. 

Participants’ visit to Kompas Gramedia, the Cathedral Church, Istiqlal Mosque, and Galeria Sophilia (Doc. UMN).

On Tuesday (20/01), participants took part in off-campus learning activities through an industry visit to Kompas Gramedia. During this visit, they learned about the use of AI in news and media, ranging from video production and editorial processes to the ethics of AI implementation in the media industry.

Beside that, participants also visited Galeria Sophilia Jakarta, Cathedral Church Jakarta, Istiqlal Mosque Jakarta. Participants had the opportunity to explore various cultures and important historical landmarks from each location.

Participants take part in a cooking class at UMN’s Hospitality Program (Doc. UMN)

On Wednesday (21/01), students participated in a series of classes designed by each faculty at UMN. In general, each faculty presented themes related to AI, ranging from AI ethics in communication, AI for sustainable design to a deeper introduction to AI itself. In addition to academic classes, students also joined a cooking class featuring traditional Indonesian cuisine.

“Through the UMN Indonesian Experience 2026 program I feel happier, I could learn more about Indonesian culture and also gain a deeper understanding of other cultures from fellow participants. Not only about culture, I also learned more about the implementation of AI in journalism and Indonesia, especially in the development of modern media today,” said Denys Andriichuk, one of the participants from Vistula University, Poland. 

For Denys, the program became increasingly better each day, he stated that he’s happier. In addition he is surrounded with other participants who give out positive things and exciting energy throughout the program. 

“By participating in this program, I was able to build new friendships with almost all of the participants. The program was organized very professionally, and I personally received full support from UMN’s International Office and buddies,” he added.

Group photo and participants’ visit to Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Doc. UMN)

On Thursday (22/01), all of the participants continued their activities with a visit to Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII). Participants had the opportunity to experience various unique aspects of Indonesian culture firsthand, from batik and Indonesian wildlife to hands-on experiences playing Angklung and batik-making.

Cultural performances by participants representing their respective countries (Doc. UMN)

On the last day Friday (23/01) all of the participants took part in a cultural performance representing their countries. Participants showcased various cultural arts, including traditional dances and songs, while wearing their national costumes. The closing ceremony was attended by the Chairperson of the Foundation, the UMN Rectorate, and UMN lecturers

“This program is really interesting, participants are able to truly understand the diverse cultures in Indonesia. As a lecturer, I not only accompanied the students but also took part as a participant, and I personally gained a lot of new knowledge about Indonesia’s rich traditions,” said Lourd Ive M. Visbal, Lecturer and Director of Arts, Culture, and Global Heritage at Southern Luzon State University (SLSU), Philippines.

Looking through the lecturer’s perspective, For Lourd, this program had an important role in students’ personal development. According to him, understanding other countries’ cultures not only broadens students’ knowledge but also helps them embrace cultural differences among nations.

“UMN also equips students with knowledge about AI technology, which is important for them to understand. This preparation helps students recognize that AI serves as a supporting tool and should not be misused,” he added.

The UMN Indonesian Experience 2026 is expected to have a positive impact and broaden the global perspectives of its participants. The program is also expected to serve as a strategic step for UMN toward becoming a world-class university.

By Rachel Tiffany  | UMN News Service

Kuliah di Jakarta untuk jurusan program studi Informatika| Sistem Informasi | Teknik Komputer | Teknik Elektro | Teknik Fisika | Akuntansi | Manajemen| Komunikasi Strategis | Jurnalistik | Desain Komunikasi Visual | Film dan Animasi | Arsitektur | D3 Perhotelan , di Universitas Multimedia Nusantara.