Hello, I’m Adel, an architecture student at Itenas Bandung and an IISMA 2024 co-funding awardee at Universiti Malaya, Malaysia. For one semester, from September 2024 to February 2025, I had the opportunity to experience a new learning and living environment outside Indonesia, specifically in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
At Universiti Malaya, I took four courses, mainly under the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, focusing on Southeast Asian politics, human rights, gender and society, and management. During my time there, I stayed at the 12th Raja Dr. Nazrin Shah Residence College, which is located within the campus. To get to class, I usually took the campus shuttle bus from my dormitory, but when I had an early morning class, I sometimes used Grab, as the bus stop was still quite a distance from my lecture halls. The classrooms varied in size and setting—some were large auditoriums for compulsory courses with many participants, while others, like the studio classrooms for elective courses, were smaller and more intimate.
Lecture activities at Universiti Malaya—at least for the courses I took—were conducted in English, although some courses used a mix of Malay and English. In some classes, the lecture format was similar to those in Indonesia, where the lecturer explained the material for two hours while students listened. However, in other classes, the approach was much more interactive, involving student participation. In these sessions, lecturers often engaged us in simulation games, mini debates, group discussions, or sharing sessions, particularly in the politics class. Additionally, almost all the courses I took had tutorial sessions, which lasted about an hour each week to reinforce lecture material. Each tutorial had a different format, but generally, we were required to answer tutorial questions, write essays based on those questions, and then present our work in front of the class. The lecturer or teaching assistant provided feedback on our presentations, including content, grammar, writing style, and formatting. Sometimes, we also participated in activities outside the classroom, such as charity work.
Beyond academics, I actively joined various activities organized by UM Global Buddies (UMGB)—a student organization that supports and facilitates activities for mobility students. Through UMGB, I participated in art workshops, movie nights, field trips, and language classes. I regularly attended a Japanese language class taught by a native student volunteer. Outside campus activities, Indonesian students in the IISMA program also organized events as part of IISMA’s challenges. For example, we performed at the closing ceremony of UM’s Week of Welcome and participated in the Culturise Challenge. To complete the Culturise Challenge, we hosted Pekan Berboedaja, a cultural event where we performed traditional Indonesian dances, sang a medley of Indonesian songs, introduced Indonesian pop music, and set up game booths, photo booths, and an Indonesian food booth. Additionally, we engaged in charity activities for children with special needs.
One of the aspects I appreciated most about studying at UM was the excellent learning facilities. We had access to a library open until 10 PM, a 24-hour study area, faculty-specific libraries, study cubicles in the dormitory, and learning tools such as free Microsoft 365 access and international academic journals, making it incredibly convenient for students to study.
My experience studying at Universiti Malaya has been truly extraordinary. It provided me with opportunities I had never imagined before. I have learned so much, gained valuable knowledge and new perspectives, and built friendships with people from various countries.