unugiri.ac.id Bojonegoro – Twenty-five students from Universiti Islam Selangor (UIS), Malaysia, participated in the Student Mobility Program at Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Sunan Giri (UNUGIRI) Bojonegoro from October 27 to November 7, 2025. This program represents one of the international collaboration between UNUGIRI and UIS. Over nearly two weeks, participants engaged in a variety of academic and non-academic activities designed to exchange ideas, share research experiences, and explore cultural values between the two Islamic universities.
Sharing Ideas
The Program commenced with an International Sharing Session, which brought together students from UIS and UNUGIRI. Participants exchanged research findings, academic experiences, and learning practices.
Ila Nur Cahyanti Syah Putri, a student in the Islamic Religious Education (PAI) Program within the Faculty of Tarbiyah at UNUGIRI, presented her research on the implementation of Virtual Reality (VR) technology in Islamic Education, conducted under the supervision of her lecturer.
“I was delighted to share my research experience with my peers from UIS. At UNUGIRI, we are developing technology-based learning innovations, including the use of VR to represent Hajj and worship practices interactively,” Ila stated.
“Through this activity, I learned how students abroad also integrate technology into Islamic education. We not only learn but also exchange perspectives and insights.”
The sharing session fostered an interactive atmosphere, where both universities addressed the challenges of Islamic education in the digital era and discussed how technological innovation can enhance religious values among learners.
Educational and Field Activities
In addition to academic activities, the Student Mobility Program included educational visits to various locations around Bojonegoro. UIS students learned about local history and culture through visits to Kayangan Api, local food processing industries, and several community and educational centers.
These field visits provided participants with firsthand experiences of local wisdom and community-based educational practices in Bojonegoro. UIS students also had the opportunity to visit UNUGIRI’s partner schools to observe classroom learning processes and examine how teachers employed active and innovative teaching methodologies.
Amin, a student representative from UIS, expressed gratitude for the warm welcome extended by the UNUGIRI academic community and the people of Bojonegoro.
“We felt very welcomed here. There is much we can learn from the local culture and the interactions between lecturers and students on campus,” Amin remarked.
“The program may seem simple, but it has provided a meaningful experience. We not only learned but also formed new friendships and gained valuable insights.”
International Collaboration to Enhance Student Competence
The Student Mobility Program between UNUGIRI and UIS also featured an International Conference for Students, where participants from both universities presented their academic ideas to lecturers and fellow students. This forum served as a platform for students to enhance their academic communication, presentation, and cross-cultural collaboration skills.
According to Ainu Zuhriyah, Director of Academic, Student Affairs, and Religious Development at UNUGIRI, the Student Mobility Program is one of the university’s flagship initiatives aimed at improving the quality and competence of UNUGIRI students.
“Through this program, UNUGIRI students not only study domestically but also gain experience interacting with international peers. It is an opportunity to broaden their perspectives, strengthen academic networks, and build confidence on the global stage,” Ainu explained.
She further noted that such activities are a concrete step toward realizing UNUGIRI’s vision of becoming a World-Class University.
“Internationalization does not always necessitate going abroad. By welcoming international students and establishing collaborations like this, UNUGIRI creates extensive opportunities for academic exchange while demonstrating that Bojonegoro can host international-scale academic activities,” she added.
Throughout the two-week program, all participants showed great enthusiasm. UIS and UNUGIRI students actively engaged in classroom discussions, social activities, and cultural exchanges. The program fostered a spirit of mutual understanding and strengthened the bonds among young Muslim scholars across Southeast Asia.
Text : Sofi l Translator : Nana