Bridging the gap : Connecting the interaction between local and international students in universiti

According to the National Education Statistics, Higher Education Sector issued by the Ministry of Education Malaysia in 2014, the number of international students enrolled in public universities in Malaysia in 2013 increased to a total of 28,826 students compared with 26,232 international students enrolled in 2012 and the top ten countries that contribute to new applications in 2014 were Bangladesh, Nigeria, China, Indonesia, Pakistan, Yemen, Libya, Sudan, Kazakhstan and India. The data clearly shows an increase in the number of international students enrolled in public universities in Malaysia which is stimulated by various factors and reasons and for sure, various nationality of students obviously beautify the university environment of studies by getting involve with generating different perspective or ideas. This actually helps in developing the culture of continuous excellence of the university itself with collaborating in research and development purposes or any competition that can raise the university name.

But, do we realize the existing of gap between local students and international students even in the same residential college, lecture or class? One of the main factors for this to happen, is a very significant cultural differences between local students and international students. Normally, local students or international students easier and comfortable interacting with a group of students from the same country or region as they seek common feature between them in all aspects. Now, we are not looking on how many factor contributing to these problems but we are looking on how we can bridging the existing gap between the local student and international student.

International week or cultural week held on the campus is one of the event that can connect local students with international students effectively. As felt by Islamic Science University of Malaysia (USIM) every year, the International Week program organized by the USIM International Student Society managed to attract many visitors, especially local students to experience the uniqueness of the cultural diversity of various countries in a university such as USIM. Cultural performances from various countries, trying traditional costumes of various nations or having dishes and cuisine from other culture that is certainly delicious and unique is a big chances to have good intercultural communication and understanding as they interacting with each other asking or answering about something regarding to the culture itself. This indirectly fosters intimacy between local and international students.

l List of countries where USIM's students come from.

Other than that, the function of student ambassador really helps promoting communication between students either local students or international students. Student ambassador knows how to create the relation or connection between students from various background as they involve themselves directly assisting university in everything related with the university. USIM experiencing this stuff by appointing their own student ambassador. USIM currently has eleven student ambassadors who supervised under the administration of the International Relations Office or known as USIM 'Alamiyyah. They all come from different countries for instance Nigeria, Yemen, Malaysia and Indonesia and also from various academic background, and this is a good initiative and greater way by USIM to foster better and effective communication among local students and international students. These ambassadors will show the best example to other students in the way of communication and celebrating cultural differences as they go through various programs involving the internationalization at the university level. The student ambassador be like a bridge between local and international students and that’s why student ambassador also among the most important part to helps regarding to this matter.

Apart from that, the desires arising from ourselves is also important to bridge the gap between local and international students. Indeed, all activities and programs can be designed to help accomplish this mission, but without support or response from the students themselves, all these activities will also not be realized as well. Desire to become involve in various activities that involve between local and international students is very helpful in bridging this gap since the birth of nature to explore something new and find the uniqueness of each culture. When student want to communicate with others from a different culture, they find ways to do this. It takes practice but it reaps rewards. Take a few moments to consider the techniques that we use to communicate with people who are different from us, we might want to think about the last exercise and reflect on what worked but also think about things that we have done in other contexts like in the class or social things.

Students should be more aware of the importance of interaction and participation in various activities between local and international students. Involvement and closer connections between local and international students really help to improve mutual understanding in a variety of matters, improving language proficiency, improve self-confidence, enhance communication skills to a better level and of course add more contacts and friends from various countries around the world. Bill Gates once said, “We all need people who will give us feedback. That's how we improve.”

#perspektif #USIM