Tangerang Selatan — Learning about Indonesia does not always have to begin with a book. For 20 students from seven countries, the opportunity to get to know Indonesia instead began with encounters, conversations, and firsthand experiences of the lives and cultures of its people.
They are participants in The Third Universitas Terbuka International Summer Camp, or BINAR 2026, organized by Universitas Terbuka (UT). The students come from Malaysia, the Philippines, Timor-Leste, Vietnam, China, Türkiye, and Pakistan. They will take part in a series of academic and cultural activities with 10 UT Yogyakarta students from September 1–15, 2026, in Jakarta and Yogyakarta.
BINAR is a program designed by UT to strengthen cross-cultural exchange, global collaboration, and the introduction of Indonesian language and cultural richness to international students. The program is also part of UT’s internationalization efforts, particularly through student mobility and cross-border academic engagement.
Before coming directly to Indonesia, the participants took part in an online stage held from May 12 to July 1, 2026. A total of 107 students registered from 20 institutions in 13 countries, and they were subsequently selected into 20 participants from 10 institutions in seven countries. They then attended 16 learning sessions divided into 10 classes to learn about the Indonesian language as well as Indonesia’s social and cultural insights.
Through this process, 20 international students were selected to continue to the face-to-face stage. They were then paired with 10 UT Yogyakarta students who served as companions. This composition makes BINAR not only a learning space for international students but also an opportunity for UT students to interact and exchange perspectives with peers from various countries.
Head of UT’s Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM), Prof. Dewi Artati Padmo Putri, M.A., Ph.D., hopes that BINAR can provide an experience that goes beyond simply understanding Indonesia. According to her, the program is expected to foster friendships, collaboration, and international networks that can continue to grow after participants return to their respective countries.
This is in line with the message from UT Rector Prof. Dr. Ali Muktiyanto, S.E., M.Si. He considers the diversity of BINAR participants to demonstrate that the spirit of learning and building cross-cultural relationships knows no boundaries of country, age, or gender. Of the 30 participants, 20 are women, while the participants range in age from 19 to 57.
During their time in Indonesia, the participants will not only take part in activities on campus. They will also attend the celebration of UT’s 42nd Dies Natalis on September 4, 2026, before continuing the series of activities in Yogyakarta.
In Yogyakarta, the learning process will take place closer to community life. Participants will learn about Indonesian language and culture through daily interactions, arts, traditions, and local wisdom. In this way, culture is not only studied as knowledge but also experienced through direct interaction and firsthand experiences.
The spirit of learning together was already visible during the introduction session. Participants were asked to introduce themselves in Indonesian. Some were able to deliver their introductions fluently, while others were still trying to find the right words. Although simple, the moment showed that learning a language also means having the courage to try, interact, and open oneself to a new culture.
For UT, BINAR is also part of its efforts to strengthen UT’s involvement in international activities. Several UT leaders hope that the exchange experience can continue to be developed, including through the involvement of study programs, so that internationalization takes place not only at the institutional level but also becomes increasingly connected to students and their fields of study.
Furthermore, the spirit of BINAR is aligned with SDG 4 on Quality Education through cross-cultural learning, as well as SDG 5 on Gender Equality and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals through the involvement of participants and higher education institutions from various countries.
Ultimately, BINAR 2026 is not only about international students coming to get to know Indonesia. It is a space for every participant to learn to understand differences, share experiences, and discover similarities amid diversity. From language that gradually becomes understood, to culture that begins to be recognized, and friendships that grow, BINAR carries a simple message: education can be a bridge connecting Indonesia with the world.
