KUCHING: A farewell dinner at Kampung Santubong on Saturday (Nov 14) capped a homestay programme for 12 students from Indonesia’s Sekolah Tinggi Keguruan dan Ilmu Pendidikan (STKIP) Persada Khatulistiwa, Sintang.
The mobility programme is organised by Universiti Malaysia Sarawak’s (UNIMAS) Faculty of Education, Language and Communication (FPBK) together with STKIP Persada Khatulistiwa, in a continuing effort to strengthen educational, cultural and community ties between Sarawak and West Kalimantan, according to a statement.
Now in its third edition, the programme involves the Kampung Santubong homestay community as a strategic partner, offering the students community-based learning experiences.
The students, from various fields of education, were accompanied by lecturer Evi Fitrianingrum, and have stayed at the homestay since Nov 4.
During their stay, they took part in handicraft-making and learned to prepare kuih bahulu and mi kolok. They also joined educational visits related to Sarawak’s science, history and heritage.
The farewell dinner was organised by the Santubong Homestay Association. Among those present were FPBK’s Dean, Dr Dilah Tuah, association chairman Jumuri Hussaini and programme coordinator Abang Asmirul Abang Nawas.
The evening featured performances of Puteri Santubong and Sungai Kapuas by the STKIP students, as well as a traditional Malay drum performance, reflecting the close cultural ties between the two regions.
The statement said the community-based approach gives students the chance to learn outside the classroom, understand cultural diversity and appreciate the way of life of kindred communities in Borneo.
It added that the homestay community’s involvement for the third time shows the potential of local communities as strategic partners of universities in internationalising higher education.
The delegation will continue its mobility activities at UNIMAS for two days on Nov 16 and 17 before returning to Sintang on Nov 18.
