Medan, Indonesia – November 30, 2025 — The academic community and students of the Master’s Program in English Education (Magister Tadris Bahasa Inggris/MTBI), Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training (FITK), UIN Sumatera Utara, conducted an International Students Engagement program in Malaysia as part of the university’s ongoing International Students Mobility initiative. This program reflects MTBI’s strong commitment to improving academic quality, strengthening global networks, and providing international learning experiences for its students.
The delegation was led by Maslathif Dwi Purnomo, M.Hum., Ph.D., Head of the Master’s Program in English Education, and was accompanied by Prof. Dr. Candra Wijaya, M.Pd., Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Institutional Development of FITK, representing the faculty leadership. More than a dozen MTBI students participated in the program, gaining valuable exposure to international academic and educational environments.
Throughout the program, the MTBI delegation visited several key institutions and learning centers in Malaysia, including International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), International Islamic School Malaysia (IISM), and Sanggar Belajar Gomvak Utara, Kuala Lumpur. These visits were designed to broaden students’ perspectives, enhance intercultural communication skills, and strengthen the academic capacity of the MTBI program through direct international engagement.
According to Maslathif Dwi Purnomo, Ph.D., international students engagement is not merely an overseas visit, but a strategic academic effort to strengthen the program’s global orientation.
“International exposure is essential for graduate students today. Through this international students engagement, our students and lecturers learn directly from global academic environments while building confidence, adaptability, and intercultural competence,” he stated.
He emphasized that the experience supports MTBI’s vision of becoming a leading master’s program in Southeast Asia with a strong focus on integrated and transdisciplinary English education. By engaging with international institutions and educational communities, students are encouraged to reflect on global best practices and bring new insights back to their academic and professional development at UIN Sumatera Utara.
Prof. Dr. Candra Wijaya, M.Pd. also highlighted the importance of institutional support in international programs such as this. The involvement of faculty leadership, he explained, demonstrates FITK’s commitment to ensuring that international activities are aligned with academic standards, curriculum development, and long-term institutional goals.
During the visits, MTBI students had opportunities to interact with international students, educators, and learning communities. These interactions helped students improve their academic communication in English, understand diverse educational cultures, and develop a broader perspective on the role of English education in global and multicultural contexts.
Maslathif further explained that programs like this are closely connected to the graduate profile targeted by MTBI, which includes producing professional English educators, character-based ELT researchers, and globally competitive ELT innovators.
“We want our graduates to be confident on the global stage. International students engagement trains them to think internationally, act professionally, and contribute meaningfully to education and society,” he added.
The International Students Engagement program in Malaysia also serves as an important step in strengthening MTBI’s international reputation and collaboration network. Experiences gained from this program will be integrated into academic discussions, classroom practices, and future international initiatives within the program.
Through this international journey, MTBI UIN Sumatera Utara reaffirms its dedication to continuous quality improvement, global engagement, and the development of graduates who are academically strong, culturally aware, and ready to compete in international academic and professional environments.
