Bridging Borders: UIN Bukittinggi Partnerships Drive Academic Tourism Diplomacy
BUKITTINGGI, INDONESIA— The West Sumatran city of Bukittinggi is doubling down on its role as an academic and cultural hub in Indonesia, leveraging cross-border educational diplomacy to boost regional tourism.
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| Bukittinggi's iconic Jam Gadang mesmerises under the night sky. |
UIN Sjech M.Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi (State Islamic University of Sjech M. Djambek Bukittinggi) has partnered with the Bukittinggi City Government to host an international internship programme for students from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).
The initiative underscores a growing trend among Indonesian higher education institutions to move beyond traditional classroom instruction, serving as catalysts for local development through international networks.
The cross-border partnership was formalised on Thursday (July 30) as the UKM students were officially received by Andreas, Secretary of the Bukittinggi Tourism, Youth, and Sports Agency (Disparpora).
Hands-On Governance
Speaking at the reception, Andreas highlighted that the international interns would gain direct exposure to local tourism governance rooted in rich historical and cultural heritage.
"The Tourism Agency oversees an interconnected ecosystem—ranging from destination management, marketing, and the creative economy, to youth affairs and sports," Andreas noted. "Interns from UKM will gain practical experience across these divisions to see firsthand how tourism policies are formulated and executed on the ground."
He added that Bukittinggi offers a compelling case study by combining Minangkabau natural landscapes, historic national monuments, and a culturally driven economy. Fresh perspectives from Malaysian students are expected to enhance the city's tourism narrative across ASEAN markets.
Reciprocal Impact
The international outreach effort is led by senior academic officials from UIN Bukittinggi, including Head of the Research and Community Service Institute (LPPM) Muhiddinur Kamal, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs at the Faculty of Islamic Economics and Business (FEBI) Era Sonita, and Head of the International Affairs Centre Irwandi.
Irwandi stressed that academic diplomacy must deliver tangible benefits for both the institution and the host city. "This collaboration with UKM Malaysia is not merely a student exchange; it is a concrete demonstration of how universities can bridge local potential with the global stage," Irwandi said. "By placing students directly within the municipal agency, they can study culture-based tourism management while strengthening bilateral ties at the grassroots level."
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| The Tourism Village of Lake Diateh, Alahan Panjang, Solok Regency, West Sumatera |
Through this alignment between academia and municipal governance, Bukittinggi is positioning itself as a "living laboratory" for tourism management, the creative economy, and Malay cultural studies in Southeast Asia. (IO Media)
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