The Faculty of Languages and Arts (FBS) at Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) welcomed a delegation from National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech), Taiwan, to the FBS UNNES Dean’s Office Building on October 11, 2026. The visit marked a significant step in strengthening international academic collaboration through the signing of an Implementation of Arrangement (IA) for an Inbound Student Mobility Program focused on Indonesian language learning, traditional performing arts, and Javanese cultural heritage.
The YunTech delegation comprised Professor Lng-Dong Lin (林蘭東), Dean of Student Affairs; Dr. Jenny Huang (黃貞元), CEO of the Executive Master Program in Business Administration; and Chiu-Ju Chen (陳秋如), Administrative Officer of the Extracurricular Activities Guidance Division.
The agreement was formally signed at the FBS UNNES Dean’s Office Building by Prof. Heri Yanto, M.B.A., Ph.D., Acting Dean of FBS UNNES, and Professor Lng-Dong Lin, representing YunTech.
The partnership establishes a framework for international student mobility activities designed to provide YunTech students with immersive learning experiences in Indonesian language, traditional arts, and Javanese cultural heritage.
A key feature of the collaboration is the integration of a digital wayang kulit (Javanese shadow puppet) e-catalogue into cultural learning activities. Developed by the Javanese Language and Literature Education Study Program at FBS UNNES, the digital resource introduces international students to wayang characters, visual characteristics, and the cultural values embedded in Indonesia’s traditional shadow puppet heritage.
The e-catalogue has also been used as a learning resource during the Javana Summer Camp program, where international students explored Javanese shadow puppetry through a combination of digital learning materials and direct cultural experiences.
This approach demonstrates how educational technology can enhance cultural learning by connecting digital resources with experiential activities, allowing international students to engage with traditional arts in a more accessible and meaningful way.
Introducing Gamelan, Javanese Songs, and the Indonesian Language
Beyond shadow puppetry, the collaboration between FBS UNNES and YunTech also includes learning activities centered on gamelan and traditional Javanese songs.
These activities will incorporate instructional materials and gamelan learning guides developed by the Dance, Drama, and Music Education Study Program at FBS UNNES. The materials are designed to introduce students to the fundamental concepts, instruments, musical practices, and cultural values associated with Javanese gamelan and singing traditions.
The student mobility program also includes an introduction to the alphabet used in Indonesian through educational posters accompanied by Mandarin explanations. These resources are intended to help Taiwanese students develop an initial understanding of Indonesian writing.
Together, the three learning components reflect an interdisciplinary approach that integrates language education, literature, traditional performing arts, and educational technology.
Through these activities, YunTech students are expected to gain insights into Indonesian cultural heritage while developing intercultural awareness through engagement with both digital resources and traditional artistic practices.
Advancing Internationalization and Academic Innovation
Prof. Heri Yanto, M.B.A., Ph.D., Acting Dean of FBS UNNES, emphasized the strategic importance of the partnership in expanding the faculty’s international engagement while promoting academic innovations rooted in Indonesia’s cultural heritage.
He highlighted the potential of the wayang e-catalogue and other Javanese cultural learning materials developed by FBS UNNES study programs to serve as educational resources for international learners.
The collaboration also provides opportunities to introduce the faculty’s academic strengths and cultural expertise to international partners.
He expressed hope that the partnership with YunTech would extend beyond student mobility to include collaborative instructional materials development, joint research, and further innovation in culture-based education.
Meanwhile, Mohamad Yusuf Ahmad Hasyim, Lc., M.A., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Student Affairs, Alumni, and Cooperation at FBS UNNES, highlighted the importance of experiential learning in helping international students develop a deeper understanding of Indonesian culture.
He emphasized that combining digital learning resources with hands-on cultural activities, as demonstrated through Javana Summer Camp, can provide a more comprehensive educational experience.
Through the wayang e-catalogue, international students can explore the characters and artistic features of traditional shadow puppetry, while practical cultural activities allow them to engage more directly with the values and traditions behind the art form.
He also regarded the YunTech delegation’s visit and the signing of the agreement as important steps toward strengthening international academic networks and developing more structured and sustainable student mobility programs.
The involvement of multiple study programs in developing cultural learning resources is also expected to encourage greater interdisciplinary collaboration within FBS UNNES and expand the international application of its academic innovations.
Strengthening Cultural Diplomacy Through International Education
The partnership between FBS UNNES and YunTech demonstrates how internationalization in higher education can be advanced through the integration of academic innovation and local cultural heritage.
The wayang e-catalogue, gamelan instructional materials, and Indonesian language learning resources illustrate how university-developed educational products can support international learning while promoting cultural exchange.
Through the Inbound Student Mobility Program, Javanese cultural heritage is introduced not only as a collection of traditional art forms but also as a source of knowledge that can be explored through contemporary educational approaches.
The agreement also provides for joint coordination and program evaluation, creating opportunities for both institutions to review learning experiences and explore future academic and cultural cooperation.
Supporting SDG 4, SDG 11, and SDG 17
The collaboration supports FBS UNNES’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Its contribution to SDG 4 is reflected in the development of international learning experiences that integrate digital technology, intercultural education, and hands-on engagement with traditional arts.
The initiative also contributes to SDG 11 by promoting the appreciation and preservation of Javanese cultural heritage, particularly wayang kulit, gamelan, and traditional Javanese songs. Digital learning resources further provide opportunities to document and share cultural knowledge with international audiences.
Meanwhile, the YunTech delegation’s visit and the formal signing of the IA represent a tangible contribution to SDG 17 by strengthening international partnerships in education, cultural exchange, and student mobility.
Through this collaboration, FBS UNNES reaffirms its commitment to advancing globally engaged higher education while remaining firmly rooted in Indonesia’s rich cultural traditions.
The integration of the wayang e-catalogue and other innovative cultural learning resources is expected to provide a model for international cultural education, enhance the global reach of FBS UNNES’s academic programs, and promote Indonesian language, arts, and cultural heritage to a wider international audience.
