Malang, en.SERU.co.id – The Faculty of Economics and Business at Universitas Brawijaya (FEB UB) is advancing its internationalization agenda by expanding networks among foreign students from many countries and deepening academic partnerships with overseas universities. The effort took shape at Cultural Night FEB UB together with Nagoya University on Thursday, 24 September 2026.
Dean of FEB UB Abdul Ghofar SE MS MAcc DBA Ak CA said the event was designed not only as an introduction for foreign students to campus life but also as a space for interaction among students from different countries and a meeting point between new foreign students and those already enrolled in the faculty’s International Undergraduate Program (IUP).
“First, for the orientation of new students, especially foreign students. Second, to introduce new foreign students to the FEB environment and to senior foreign students already here,” said Abdul Ghofar at the Main Building Hall, 3rd Floor of FEB UB.
He explained that such interaction is expected to help foreign students adapt more easily to academic life at Universitas Brawijaya. Cross-country meetings, he added, also open opportunities for the exchange of culture, thoughts, ideas and insights.
Abdul Ghofar noted that foreign students currently studying at FEB UB come from 23 countries. This diversity forms part of the faculty’s effort to create a more open academic environment for international interaction.
Internationalization does not stop at cultural activities. Some of the foreign students at FEB UB come from partner universities abroad and take part in research programs or student mobility schemes.
“Once people get to know one another, there is an exchange of thoughts, ideas and concepts, so knowledge develops and culture develops too,” he said.
Vice Dean I of FEB UB, Prof. Ananda Sabil Hussein, added that the networks formed through foreign students will continue to be developed after the event. He said the International Relations Office (IRO) of FEB UB serves as one of the main channels for sustaining collaboration in education, research and other academic activities.
“Going forward, we will keep the collaboration going, whether in research, education or activities like this,” Ananda said.
The IRO management noted that several academic partnerships are currently being prepared with overseas universities, including institutions in Hamburg, Germany, and the Jaipur Institute of Management in India.
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These collaborations focus on programs such as Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL), joint research and a 3-in-1 scheme that allows foreign lecturers to teach at FEB UB.
Cultural Night also gave students and participants from partner universities a chance to experience both academic life and Indonesian culture. Coleen Villaluz, a participant from Nagoya University who is originally from the Philippines, said the event allowed her to learn more about Indonesian culture while sharing her own experiences from joint fieldwork with Nagoya University and Universitas Brawijaya.
“It’s very nice. Got to know more about the Indonesian culture and we got the chance to also share our experience. From our fieldwork with Nagoya University and Universitas Brawijaya,” said Coleen.
She expressed hope that the partnership between Nagoya University and Universitas Brawijaya would continue. According to Coleen, professors from Nagoya University have already planned joint research activities for the following year.
A different perspective came from Yasmine, an FEB UB student from Afghanistan. She described her first year as full of challenges as she adapted to a new academic environment, language and culture.
Yasmine even lost one semester because of visa issues when she first arrived in Indonesia. As a result, she had to sit her final examinations after only about one week of preparation.
“I had to take the final examination without studying and did it in only one week. It was very challenging and made me stressed,” said Yasmine.
Despite the difficulties, she said support from faculty staff and lecturers helped her get through that period and successfully complete her first semester. Her academic performance improved in the following semester. She also valued the practical experiences at FEB UB, including participation in Management Training Day.
For Yasmine, being an international student is not only about earning a degree. She encourages new students to make the most of opportunities to learn, gain experience and broaden their knowledge while on campus.
The continued expansion of international networks is part of FEB UB’s broader goal of becoming a study destination not only for Indonesian students but also for those from many other countries. With foreign students already coming from 23 nations and with growing collaboration in student mobility, research, COIL and foreign lecturer teaching, the faculty aims to keep strengthening these connections in the years ahead. (ws15/rhd)
