Summer Course for Culture & Environment Learning

OIA (Office of International Affairs) Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) successfully hold Summer Course program themed Aceh Discovery: A Cultural & Environmental Immersion. Participants were Malaysian students from Universitas Teknologi Malaysia and Universiti Malaya. The program aimed to promote Aceh’s cultural diversity and environmental education. The program was held from 26-30 November 2023, and consisted with several agendas, including Cultural Workshop, visitation to the Lubok Sukon Tourism Village, Aceh Besar, Community Engagement program in Gampong Prada, Banda Aceh, visitation to the Bank Sampah USK (wastebank) and Atsiri Research Center of USK, also visitation to Tsunami sites.

The chairman of OIA, Dr. Muzailin Affan, in welcoming ceremony, held on 17 November 2023, said that the Summer Course Program is OIA annual program which aims to invite International students from abroad to study within short time at USK. The university will introduce the excellences of USK and the city of Banda Aceh. Earlier, Summer Course program took the theme Disaster, but this year, the theme is Culture and Environment.

OIA in collaboration with the Art, Drama and Music Study Program, introduced Acehnese traditional dances to approximately 30 participants of the Summer Course program. The dances were taught by USK students. The participants were taught how to play a traditional Acehnese instrument also. All students were excited, both in introducing the dances and in terms of learning.

Then OIA introduced USK Bank Sampah (wastebank) and provided education on recycling process, that is the process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects that are useful for the environment. Participants obtained knowledge on how to sort waste, reduce the use of single-use plastic waste and Styrofoam, how to process waste into fertilizer, and so on. Participants were also introduced waste chopping engine, wastebank transportation etc.

Regarding visitation, participants of the program visited a tourist village of Gampoeng Peurada. Participants had the opportunity to discuss with the communities and make compost. At the same time, participants also had the chance to get to know and learn Aceh handicrafts and its pattern taught by the societies. Another tourist village, participants visited Lubok Sukon, Aceh Besar. Participants interacted directly with the communities there to know each other and did sightseeing. Several activities were also arranged, such as visiting the Village Hall, walking around the village guided by the local, and making Aceh traditional food, called Timphan.