UIN Surakarta International Students Become Cultural Speakers at Al Abidin International Islamic Junior High School

Two international students of UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta, Muhammad Awais from Pakistan and Johane Lintange Atillo from the Philippines, were invited as speakers in a cultural introduction program organized by Al Abidin International Islamic Junior High School (SMPII Al Abidin) Karanganyar on Tuesday (May 19). The activity was part of the school’s International Expo, which aimed to broaden students’ global perspectives and intercultural awareness. The invitation was officially addressed to UIN Raden Mas Said Surakarta through a request letter submitted to the Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Alumni, and Cooperation.

The event, which began at 9:00 AM, was attended by school leaders, teachers, students, and committee members. The program opened with an interactive talk show session between the international students and SMP Al Abidin students, creating an enthusiastic and engaging atmosphere from the beginning. The event then continued with speeches, cultural performances, a fashion show, and an English speech competition. During the program, Muhammad Awais participated as a keynote guest speaker, joined the question-and-answer session, served as a judge for the speech competition, and presented awards to the winners. According to Awais, the event successfully encouraged students to build confidence, creativity, and cross-cultural understanding within a global learning environment.