Bureau of Collaboration and International Affairs (BKUI), Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) held an International Cultural Academic Competition (ICAC), Saturday (24/09) in the seventh floor, the Siti Walidah UMS Main Building.

Head of Student Mobility & Hospitality, Nur Amalia, M.Teach explained that ICAC was an International Office program in UMS. The program presented several cultural acknowledgements, including poster competitions, traditional dance, traditional song, and traditional gastronomy.

“International Cultural Academic Competition is academic and non-academic competition, especially poster competitions, traditional dance, traditional song, and traditional gastronomy,” she said.

One of the outcomes was that the students had various experiences and knowledge about the cultural heritage from each country, especially tradition, cultural characteristics, and others. “By cultural and traditional arts acknowledgement, the students will improve their knowledge about the developing tradition from other countries,” she added.

The Vice-Rector V for collaboration and international affairs, Prof Supriyono S.T, M.T. Ph.D expressed his expectation to improve students’ experience and understanding of various cultures in each country, especially its tradition and characteristics. 

“Besides sharing the foreign culture from UMS international students for Indonesian students, it also introduces the diversity of Indonesian culture for the foreign students who study in international class,” Prof Supriyono said.

One of the participants, Nadia Oweida, UMS students from Egypt (Africa) followed the poster competition about stop bullying, meanwhile Ali Essam Ali Al-Sanani presented the traditional gastronomy of Yemen, kabsa. “We are ready to share knowledge about our nation’s tradition and culture,” Nadia said.