USK Holds Closing Ceremony for Darmasiswa Program Academic Year 2024/2025

Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK), through the Office of International Affairs (OIA), held the Closing Ceremony for the Darmasiswa Program of the 2024/2025 Academic Year on June 19, 2025, at the VIP Room of AAC Dayan Dawood Building.

The Darmasiswa Program at USK has run for ten months, during which participants from various countries studied the Indonesian language and Acehnese culture. The event featured a video presentation documenting the participants’ activities, followed by a certificate presentation for all program participants.

Chairman of OIA USK, Dr. Muzailin Affan, M.Sc., expressed his deep appreciation to the participants for their enthusiasm and dedication throughout the program. According to him, the Darmasiswa Program is not only about language learning but also about fostering strong cross-cultural friendships. USK is honored to have been part of these international students’ experiences over the past year.

“We are very pleased with the success of this program and hope that in the future, the participants will continue their studies to a higher level,” said Dr. Muzailin.
He also expressed his hope that upon returning to their home countries, the participants would become cultural ambassadors and help promote both USK and Aceh to a wider audience.

In 2024, USK welcomed a number of applications from international participants eager to learn the Indonesian language. After a rigorous selection process conducted by the OIA team and Darmasiswa RI in Jakarta, several candidates were shortlisted. Ultimately, three participants demonstrated strong commitment and enthusiasm to pursue the program at USK: Abrarul Haque Khan (Bangladesh), Htet Eaint Khine (Myanmar), and Shabnam Toirova (Tajikistan).

Meanwhile, Director of Planning and Partnership Directorate, Dr. Iflan Nauval, M.ScIH, Sp.GK(K), Sp.KKLP, AIFO-K, also extended his gratitude to all Darmasiswa participants who chose USK as their place of study and personal growth. He expressed hope that all the positive experiences in USK and Aceh would be brought home as lasting memories.

“On behalf of the university, we wish you a safe journey back to your home countries and hope you will become USK ambassadors, sharing stories about the beauty of Acehnese culture and hospitality,” he said.

USK has hosted the Darmasiswa Program several times in the past, with a peak in 2017 when it welcomed more than 10 participants. The university remains committed to supporting the internationalization of higher education and strengthening Indonesia’s role in global cultural diplomacy.