Sowing Seeds of Friendship: How UIN Bukittinggi Students Inspired Thai Youths in Koh Mee

Sabtu, Agustus 01, 2026

 Sowing Seeds of Friendship: How UIN Bukittinggi Students Inspired Thai Youths in Koh Mee

HAT YAI, — The ringing of the school bell at Songserm Sasana Vitaya School in Hat Yai district, Songkhla province, Southern Thailand, marked the end of classes on Friday (July 31) afternoon. Yet, in a quiet corner of the assembly hall at the school, fondly known as Pondok Koh Mee, an emotional farewell was just beginning.

Conducted in a hybrid format—connecting the physical venue on Kanchana Ramet Road with virtual screens across Indonesia—the farewell ceremony was brief and understated. Nine students from Sjech M. Djamil Djambek State Islamic University/Universitas Islam Negeri  (UIN) Bukittinggi officially said their goodbyes, concluding their teaching practicum and international community service program over the past few weeks.

Behind the simplicity of the afternoon's ceremony lay a narrative of how academic concepts were applied practically on the ground. The delegation from the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training  combined three academic disciplines: Guidance and Counselling, Arabic Language Education , and English Language Education. 

The cross-disciplinary team comprised Rafli Dwilianto, Selva Octaria, and Oti Aprillia from the Guidance and Counselling  program; Miftahul Azizah from the PBA program; and Restu Rahmadani, Hot Naomi Hikma Yuni, Zafara Khairun Nisa, Halimatussaddiah, and Meilien Surya Angraini from the  English Language Education. program.

In Thailand's educational system, the Mattayum secondary level (equivalent to junior and senior high school) is typically integrated within the same compound as the Pratom primary level. Adapting to this structure, the English education students taught classes ranging from Pratom to Mattayum levels. Meanwhile, the Arabic education students focused on strengthening Arabic literacy and grammar among Mattayum students.

"Since the school lacked a guidance unit, we had to adapt to the existing system so that our presence remained relevant and meaningful to the students here," Rafli Dwilianto, UIN Bukittinggi Student, said.

Breaking the Ice in a School Without Guidance Counsellors

A distinctive contribution came through psychological interventions designed for Mattayum 5 and 6 students—the equivalent of Years 11 and 12—who were at a crossroads in determining their future paths. Facing the reality that the local school system lacked a formal guidance department, the university students took the initiative to design interactive classroom sessions.

Through the Johari Window Class, the Thai students mapped out their personal potential—open, hidden, and undiscovered traits—via interactive character analysis. Confidence was fostered through roleplaying simulations, while in the Career Compass Class, MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) test instruments were used to map career interests and introduce the dynamics of Indonesian higher education.

"Since the school lacked a guidance unit, we had to adapt to the existing system so that our presence remained relevant and meaningful to the students here," said Rafli, explaining their strategy to weave supportive listening spaces into a packed formal timetable.

Educational Soft Diplomacy

This educational soft diplomacy approach drew commendation from university leaders. The Rector of UIN Bukittinggi, Prof Dr Silfia Hanani, expressed her gratitude directly to Ustadz Razak, head of the Foundation of SSVS.

Prof Silfia emphasized that the students' international endeavors extended far beyond fulfilling academic credit requirements. "The teaching experience at SSVS is not merely an academic task, but a form of humanitarian diplomacy. Our students are not just transferring knowledge, but also sowing the seeds of inclusive Islamic values," she said.

Echoing these sentiments, the Dean of FTIK UIN Bukittinggi, Dr Junaidi, highlighted the importance of coordinated support from the Research and Community Service Institute/Lembaga Penelitian dan Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat  (LPPM)—specifically the Community Service Centre and the International Office—in guiding and expanding students' opportunities on the global stage.

The farewell ceremony in Hat Yai drew to a close as the hybrid connection screens faded. However, the emotional bonds, self-confidence, and ties of friendship planted by the Indonesian students in Southern Thailand are set to endure far beyond physical borders.[ Dr.Irwandi] 

Tags : Activity Event International Networking News

Dr. Irwandi

Thank You

for taking the time to visit our website.

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