Participants of the International Staff Mobility (ISM) 2026 from seven countries took a group photo on the terrace of GLC ITS before participating in the Fun BIPA (Indonesian Language for Foreign Speakers) activities as well as being introduced to traditional Indonesian snacks and drinks, Wednesday (6/5) (Source: GLC ITS Documentation)

ITS Campus, GLC News — Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) once again strengthened the spirit of internationalization through the Fun BIPA (Indonesian Language for Foreign Speakers) activity as part of the International Staff Mobility (ISM) 2026 at the Global Language Center (GLC) ITS on Wednesday (6/5). This activity became a valuable moment for international participants to get to know the Indonesian language and culture interactively while also fostering cross-cultural communication between countries. 

A total of 30 participants from seven countries took part in the activity, namely Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, India, Japan, and the Czech Republic. Participants began arriving from 09:30 AM to register at the first-floor lobby of GLC ITS before proceeding to a group photo session at the GLC terrace at 10:00 AM.

The activities then continued in the Bhineka Tunggal Ika Room with opening and welcoming remarks delivered by the Head of GLC ITS, Ms Cahyani Satiya Pratiwi. In her remarks, she emphasized that language learning plays an important role in building cross-cultural understanding within an international environment. “Through this activity, we aim to provide an enjoyable Indonesian language learning experience while strengthening relationships among participants from various countries,” she stated.  

Following the opening session, participants joined the Fun BIPA class led by GLC ITS instructors, Mr Teguh and Ms Meilisa. During the session, participants learned basic Indonesian language skills, including self-introduction, introducing others, numbers, and traditional Indonesian foods.

GLC ITS instructor, Mr. Teguh, guided the Fun BIPA session (left), ISM 2026 participants interacted with each other in practicing simple conversations in the Bhineka Tunggal Ika Room at GLC ITS (right), Wednesday (5/6) (Source: GLC ITS Documentation)

Not only the delivery of material, the classroom atmosphere was also interactive through conversation practice among participants and group presentation sessions. They asked each other about names, countries of origin, and favorite foods to practice basic communication skills in Indonesian. Various group educational activities also livened up the learning atmosphere, making the activities feel more relaxed and enjoyable.

Participants of the ISM 2026 program captured a moment of togetherness after attending the Fun BIPA class at GLC ITS, Wednesday (5/6) (Source: GLC ITS Documentation)

After the learning session ended at 12:00 PM, participants were invited to enjoy Indonesian traditional culinary dishes specially prepared as part of the Fun BIPA activity. Various signature dishes such as fruit rujak, polo pendem, and assorted crackers were served along with traditional drinks like wedang uwuh, kunyit asam, and beras kencur. The moment also became an opportunity for relaxed interaction among participants in a friendly atmosphere. 

In addition to tasting the dishes, participants were also invited to learn about the stories behind each dish, from the natural spices used to the cultural values embedded in Indonesian culinary traditions. Several participants enthusiastically asked about the flavors, serving methods, and health benefits of those traditional beverages. Laughter and multilingual conversations enlivened the activity, creating an open space for interaction while strengthening relationships among participants from seven different countries.

This moment of togetherness demonstrated that language learning does not only take place in the classroom, but also through authentic and humanistic cultural experiences. By presenting cross-cultural interaction in an informal setting, ITS encourages the creation of global understanding, tolerance, and stronger international networks among academic communities worldwide.

Participants of ISM 2026 enjoyed traditional Indonesian culinary delights in Room 5-6 GLC ITS as part of the introduction to Indonesian culture, Wednesday (6/5) (Source: GLC ITS Documentation)

Through this activity, ITS also supports the 17th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), namely Partnerships for the Goals, through strengthening cross-cultural communication and global collaboration between universities. The excitement of this activity is expected to become a manifestation of ITS’s international synergy in building sustainable partnership networks. (*)

Written by: Alzena Mayla Shabrina
Editor: Unit Pusat Bahasa Global, ITS