Cultural Diplomacy: UIN Bukittinggi Students Showcase Heritage in Southern Thailand

Senin, Juli 27, 2026

HATYAI, Songkhla— Cultural and religious engagement is once again proving to be an effective vehicle for strengthening ties across Southeast Asia. A delegation of student volunteers from UIN Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi (Sjech M. Djamil Djambek State Islamic University, Bukittinggi) showcased traditional Malay-Minangkabau performing arts during the Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday celebration at the Hatyai City Meeting Hall in Songkhla province, Southern Thailand, on Sunday (26/7/2026).

Cultural Diplomacy. Students of UIN Bukittinggi perform a traditional Minangkabau dance during Maulid Nabi celebration in Hatyai, Thailand, promoting Indonesian heritage and cross-border friendship.

This soft diplomacy initiative, blending academic outreach with traditional performing arts, received warm acclaim from both local authorities and university leaders. Performing before hundreds of local Muslim residents, the Mayor of Hatyai, Narongporn Na Phatthalung, and board members of the Songserm Sasana Vitaya School Foundation, the Indonesian students delivered cultural showcases reflecting shared regional heritage. Alongside traditional Malay arts, the delegation presented signature Minangkabau performances, including the Tari Pasambahan (welcome dance) and Randai (folk theater), as a means of promoting local wisdom on an international stage.

Speaking from Padang, West Sumatra, UIN Bukittinggi Rector Prof. Dr. Silfia Hanani expressed high praise for the students’ international engagement, describing their participation as a concrete execution of an inclusive and globally oriented academic vision.

“We are immensely proud of the dedication shown by our international community service students in Hatyai. This is not merely the completion of a curricular requirement; it is a genuine form of cultural diplomacy. Through Minangkabau arts and a shared spirit of Islamic brotherhood, our students have demonstrated that UIN Bukittinggi is ready to contribute actively at the ASEAN regional level,” Silfia said.

She added that cross-border community service models would be expanded further to bolster institutional networks and solidify UIN Bukittinggi’s standing as a leading, culturally grounded, and globally competitive state Islamic higher education institution.

Strengthening Malay-Islamic Ties

The presence of Indonesian students in Southern Thailand carries significant sociological weight, given the historical connections and shared Malay-Islamic heritage that bind Southern Thailand and West Sumatra.

In his remarks, the Mayor of Hatyai expressed gratitude for the delegation’s contribution, noting that the performances brought cultural warmth that resonated deeply with the history and daily lives of the local Muslim community.

Similarly, Rozak, head of the Songserm Sasana Vitaya School Foundation, lauded the delegation, stating that the students’ performance succeeded in building an effective communicative bridge between educational institutions in Southern Thailand and Indonesia.

Rafli Dwiyanto, student coordinator for the international program, noted that the enthusiastic response from local residents served as a strong morale boost. “This stage provided an effective medium to introduce the richness of Minangkabau culture while fostering closer ties with our brothers and sisters in Thailand,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Arjoni, field supervisor and Head of the Center for Community Engagement / Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat(PKM) at UIN Bukittinggi, emphasized that the initiative was designed in alignment with the campus’s internationalization vision.

Strengthening Ties. Students from UIN Bukittinggi pose for a group with Mayor of Hatyai, Narongporn Na Phatthalung (seventh from left) and Ustadz Razak (eighth from left), head of  the Songserm Sasana Vitaya School Foundation.

Integrated Internationalization Framework

The exploration and execution of international academic and outreach initiatives form an integral part of the university’s broader strategy to enhance its global standing.

Head of the International Office at UIN Bukittinggi, Dr. Irwandi, emphasized that all international student mobility programs are designed under a single, integrated strategy. According to him, both the International Community Engagement and International Internship programs operate within the overarching framework of the UIN Bukittinggi Internationalization Program.

“All activities, including both international society engagement and international internships, fall under the unified umbrella of the UIN Bukittinggi Internationalization Program. This step is systematically designed to ensure that every student effort abroad not only delivers educational and community impact, but also reinforces the university’s institutional position on the global stage,” Irwandi concluded. (IRWANDI)

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Dr. Irwandi

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• NameDr. Irwandi
• AddressInternational Office of UIN Bukittinggi
• Emailio@uinbukittinggi.ac.id