BY DAYANG NUR MILLIANA FITRI
A group of 30 enthusiastic students from the Faculty of Language and Communication (FLC) Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) embarked on a captivating mobility and cultural exchange expedition to Thailand from July 30 to August 6.
FLC organised the week-long trip to Songkhla alongside Thailand’s Thaksin University (TSU) and Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya (RUTS).
In a speech during the Mobility Program’s opening ceremony at TSU, Dr Dayang Aizza Maisha Abang Ahmad, FLC’s Deputy Dean of Industry and Community Engagement, expressed her gratitude to TSU and RUTS for their full support and assistance in co-organising the mobility programme.
The strategic partnership between UNIMAS with TSU and RUTS established in 2018 has resulted in many successful collaborations, including Student Exchange Program at TSU in 2018 and the Freshmen Foreign Languages Online Camp with RUTS in 2020.
Also present at the ceremony from FLC were Dr Remmy Gedat, Deputy Dean of Undergraduate and Dr Dilah Tuah, Postgraduate Coordinator.
At the same time, TSU and RUTS were represented by Dr Lanchukorn Sriwimon, Associate Dean of International Affairs and Bunyarat Duklim, Assistant to the Dean for International Affairs and Public Relations from the Faculty of Liberal Arts.
The mobility programme was a testament to the commitment of both UNIMAS and its partner institutions, TSU and RUTS, to providing students with unique and immersive learning experiences beyond the confines of traditional classrooms.
The programme aimed to broaden students’ horizons, nurture cross-cultural communication and competencies, and promote international networking among staff and students.
With an emphasis on cultural exchange, the programme provided extensive experiential learning into the rich tapestry of Thai culture and society.
“It is also important to explore other opportunities for future collaborations in other areas like the global classroom, internship programmes, research attachments and University Social Responsibility (USR) programmes, among others,” Dr Dayang Aizza said.
“This experience was truly eye-opening,” shared Ammar Nasibah, 24, a student from UNIMAS.
“We gained insights into Thailand’s culture and academic practices and formed new friendships with fellow ‘student buddies’ from TSU and RUTS. The exposure to a new culture has broadened our knowledge and provided us with a fresh perspective on issues pertinent to our respective areas of study and academic interest.
“Aside from creating a lifelong friendship and wonderful memories that each of us will cherish, this programme has definitely improved our intercultural communication skills, which are vital to be a global citizen,” she added.
Throughout the eventful week, the students were introduced to diverse activities designed to showcase Thailand’s rich cultural heritage and promote meaningful interactions, facilitating their immersion into Thai life.
The itinerary included visits to historic landmarks, cultural sites, and vibrant local markets. Songkhla Old Town, Floating Market in Hat Yai and Folklore Museum in Songkhla were among the places visited.
The cultural exchange element of the programme was equally enriching.
The UNIMAS students had the chance to immerse themselves in Thai traditions, art, music, and cuisine.
They learned about local Thai art forms at RUTS and experienced their traditional dance performances firsthand at TSU.
The UNIMAS students not only gained insights into Thai culture but also had the chance to explore the academic offers and campus life of TSU and RUTS.
In fulfilling its USR initiative, UNIMAS and RUTS joined hands to organise a fun and interactive English Learning session with more than 60 upper-secondary students from Woranari Chaloem Songkhla School.
This cross-border endeavour is a shining example of international collaborations’ potential to shape the next generation of global citizens.
UNIMAS, TSU, and RUTS are united in their dedication to promoting cultural exchange to bridge geographical divides.
• This article was written by a student from the Strategic Communication Programme at the Faculty of Language and Communication, UNIMAS.
