IPB Celebrates Independence Day with International Students: Fusion of Culture and Spirit of Nationalism in International Education Weeks 2024

Bogor, August 17, 2024 – IPB University once again celebrated Indonesia’s Independence Day in a unique and different way. In a series of International Education Weeks 2024 activities organized by the Directorate of International Education (DPI) IPB, international students from various countries celebrated Indonesia’s Independence Day with enthusiasm.
The event began with a solemn flag ceremony at IPB’s Telaga Inspirasi Field. The participants, including international students from France, South Korea, Japan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Sudan, Tanzania, as well as countries in Southeast Asia, followed the procession with great respect. These students came from various programs at IPB, including the Inbound Program, inter-campus cooperation, and regular international programs spread across various faculties and study programs.

Group photo after the flag ceremony at IPB’s inspiring lake field.

After the ceremony, the festivities continued with a festival of traditional Indonesian clothing presented by Agrianita and the academic community of IPB. The peak of excitement occurred when various traditional Indonesian competitions were held in the courtyard of DPI IPB Office. Cracker eating competition, balloon sarong relay, ball to glass, and putting nails into a bottle, became a competitive event for the participants. Arno Vilarel, a student from France, expressed his excitement, “I really feel the excitement of the event and I will compete optimally with all the teams.”
The event also served as a platform for international students to learn more about Indonesian culture. Through active participation in traditional competitions, they not only enjoy the fun, but also understand the values contained in each game. The intimacy between the international and local students further strengthened the social relations between nations.

The Director of International Education of IPB, Mrs. Puji Mudiana, SP, MA, expressed her appreciation and happiness for the success of this activity. “We are very pleased to see the extraordinary enthusiasm of international students, buddies, student boards, and all DPI IPB administrators. Their active participation proves that this event is able to become a forum to introduce Indonesian culture to the world, while strengthening the bonds of brotherhood between us,” he said.
In closing, the event continued with an interactive question and answer session between international students and Bu Puji Mudiana in the Student Lounge of IPB’s International Student Center. In this session, the students had the opportunity to share their experiences and impressions during the series of events. The activity was closed with a meal together, which became a moment of warm togetherness, marking the end of a meaningful celebration.

Closing activities and prize distribution

With the implementation of this activity, IPB reaffirms its role as an educational institution that focuses not only on academics, but also on character building and cross-cultural understanding. International Education Weeks 2024 is an effective forum to foster a sense of togetherness and tolerance between nations, making the IPB campus a second home for international students.