UIN Bukittinggi Resumes International Community Service Program in Southern Thailand
HAT YAI — Universitas Islam Negeri (UIN) Sjech M. Djamil Djambek Bukittinggi ( Sjech M. Djamil Djambek State Islamic University, Bukittinggi) has resumed its international community service program after a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, sending nine students from its Faculty of Education and Teacher Training (FTIK) to Southern Thailand for an integrated Community Service Program (Kuliah Kerja Nyata/KKN) and Teaching Practicum (Praktik Pengalaman Lapangan/PPL).
Running from July 8 to Aug. 4, 2026, the initiative reflects the university's broader commitment to expanding international academic partnerships while reinforcing the role of higher education in fostering educational cooperation and cultural engagement across Southeast Asia.
During the nearly month-long program, the students will undertake two main assignments. They will participate in community service activities in Hat Yai, Songkhla Province, working alongside local residents in a range of social and religious programs. They will also complete a teaching practicum at Songserm Sasana Vitaya School to strengthen their professional competencies as future educators.
The delegation comprises students from three academic programs: five majoring in English Education, one in Arabic Education and three in Guidance and Counseling. The multidisciplinary composition is intended to support educational activities and community engagement in a more comprehensive manner.
Dean of the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training Dr. Junaidi said the students' diverse academic backgrounds would enable them to contribute according to the needs of both the host community and the partner school.
"We deliberately selected students from complementary disciplines so they can contribute to language instruction, classroom learning and student counseling," he said.
Reviving International Academic Mobility
Head of the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM) Dr. Muhiddinur Kamal said the program marks the university's return to international academic mobility after pandemic-related disruptions.
He noted that previous international KKN programs had been supported by the central government. Following the suspension of the initiative, UIN Bukittinggi chose to revive the program independently.
"Student interest has been remarkably high because they are eager to gain international learning experiences while developing the ability to adapt to multicultural communities," Muhiddinur said.
Rector Prof. Dr. Silfia Hanani said the program offers students valuable opportunities to gain firsthand insight into the social and cultural dynamics of the Malay-Patani community in Southern Thailand.
"Our students are not only there to teach; they are also there to learn from the community. Experiences like these are essential in shaping graduates with a global outlook while remaining firmly rooted in their own cultural identity," Silfia said.
Through the international KKN-PPL program, UIN Bukittinggi seeks to strengthen its role in educational and cultural diplomacy across ASEAN while expanding opportunities for collaboration with educational institutions in neighboring countries.
The university also strengthened its institutional engagement by presenting a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UIN Bukittinggi and Songserm Sasana Vitaya School during a meeting in Thailand on Thursday, July 9. Preparations for the partnership had been initiated by the university's Office of International Affairs earlier this year.
Arjoni said the MoU would serve as a foundation for long-term collaboration in education, academic exchanges and community engagement, paving the way for broader cooperation between the two institutions in the years ahead. (IO Media Guild of UIN Bukittinggi).
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