GOMBAK, Malaysia — September 11, 2026 — Students of the Master’s Program in English Education (MTBI) at Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara (UIN SU) Medan brought their academic knowledge into an international community setting this week, carrying out a three-day community service program at Sanggar Kamus, Jalan Setapak Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia, from September 9 to 11, 2026.
Held under the theme “International Student Mobility,” the program combined community service, academic engagement, and international learning, giving participating students an opportunity to share their knowledge and skills while engaging directly with the community in Malaysia.
The initiative was voluntarily joined by MTBI students who wished to participate, together with the program’s management team and several accompanying lecturers. The activities were designed to extend learning beyond the university classroom while encouraging students to apply their academic knowledge through direct community engagement.
Head of the Master’s Program in English Education, Maslathif Dwi Purnomo, Ph.D., said international community service activities have become a regular part of the program’s efforts to provide students with meaningful learning experiences while contributing to society.
“Programs like this have become part of our regular efforts to provide students with meaningful learning experiences beyond the classroom. International community service allows our students to share their knowledge, develop their confidence and social awareness, and at the same time contribute directly to the community. We believe that academic learning becomes more meaningful when it is connected with real-life engagement and service,” he said.
For students, the program also offered an opportunity to experience cross-cultural interaction and gain a broader understanding of educational and social contexts outside Indonesia. The international setting encouraged participants to strengthen their communication, collaboration, adaptability, and social responsibility.
Meanwhile, Reflina, M.Pd., Secretary of the Master’s Program in English Education, emphasized that academic knowledge should translate into meaningful action.
“Knowledge should be accompanied by good deeds, and good deeds should be grounded in knowledge. Through this program, we encourage our students not only to learn and develop academically, but also to put their knowledge into practice and make a meaningful contribution to society,” she said.
The International Student Mobility program at Sanggar Kamus reflects MTBI’s continued effort to connect higher education with community service and international engagement. By taking academic learning into an international community setting, the program aims to provide students with experiences that strengthen both their academic development and their commitment to serving society.
