The student exchange program (SEP) Incoming 2026 series once again brought cross-cultural experiences for international participants. One of these activities was held at the Faculty of Humanities (FIB) UNAIR with an interactive and educational program introducing Indonesian Culture on August 8, 2026.
This activity aimed to introduce the richness of Indonesian Culture to participants through direct experience. Various cultural activities were prepared so that participants not only gained insights about Indonesian traditions but could also interact and directly experience various forms of culture that are part of the nation’s identity.
During this activity, participants were introduced to gamelan, one of Indonesia's traditional musical instruments. Participants had the opportunity to try playing gamelan directly under the guidance of someone knowledgeable about the instrument. This experience provided participants with an opportunity to understand the characteristics of traditional Indonesian music while experiencing how music can be part of people's lives and culture.
Beyond traditional music, participants also had the opportunity to make batik directly. Through this activity, participants were introduced to batik as one of Indonesia's cultural heritage. Batik-making activities provided a creative experience while introducing the process behind creating batik works that possess artistic and cultural value.
Not only that, participants were also invited to learn traditional Indonesian dance. This activity became one form of introducing Nusantara's performing arts while providing space for participants to interact and learn through dance movements. Participant enthusiasm became even more evident as they followed each movement and tried practicing together.
Indonesia's cultural diversity was also introduced through traditional cuisine. Participants had the opportunity to learn about and taste various local snacks, such as layered cake, cucur cake, lemper, Solo sausage, and various other traditional foods. Culinary introduction became a unique experience for participants because food not only forms part of daily life but also represents the richness of traditions and regional diversity in Indonesia.
The activity became even more lively through traditional games identical to Indonesia's Independence Day celebrations, such as bakiak and engklek. Participants were invited to play these games directly, creating an interactive and communal atmosphere. Beyond serving as entertainment, traditional games also introduced forms of Indonesian community games that prioritize interaction and cooperation.
Through this series of activities, SEP Incoming 2026 participants gained the opportunity to learn about Indonesian culture from various aspects, ranging from music arts, visual arts, dance arts, cuisine, to traditional games. Direct experience was hoped to provide a deeper understanding of Indonesia's cultural diversity compared to simply learning about it through materials or information.
This activity also became an important part in building cross-cultural interaction through the student exchange program. The meeting between participants and local culture opened space for mutual understanding, experience sharing, and increasing appreciation for the cultural diversity that exists in the world.
With the implementation of this cultural experience, SEP Incoming 2026 not only became a platform for academic exchange but also a means to introduce Indonesian identity and cultural wealth to international participants. Through interactive and memorable experiences, participants were hoped to bring back stories about Indonesia’s cultural diversity as part of their experience during the program at UNAIR.
