FT UMS Holds Summer Camp 2026, Delivering Cross-Cultural Experience for International Students

The Faculty of Engineering of Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), in collaboration with Universitas Muhammadiyah PKU (UMPKU), held the Science & Engineering Summer Camp 2026 for the first time, from 21 to 25 July 2026. The event carried the theme "Living with the Community: Exploring Local Challenges Across Cultures, Shaping Global Perspectives."

The Science & Engineering Summer Camp 2026 is one of the ways the UMS Faculty of Engineering is delivering an international learning experience that integrates innovation, cultural exploration, and cross-country collaboration. The program is expected to open broader opportunities for academic cooperation while enriching participants' learning experience through direct interaction with Indonesian society and culture.

The Chair of the Science & Engineering Summer Camp 2026 Committee, Mohammad Nasrul Mubin, S.T., M.T., explained that the program was attended by 20 selected participants, including 11 international students, who were chosen from 176 applicants from 32 countries across Asia and Africa. According to him, the summer camp is designed as a collaborative space for students to exchange ideas, develop innovations, and understand local challenges through hands-on experience with the community.

"We designed the Science & Engineering Summer Camp 2026 as a space for participants to collaborate, share innovative ideas, and directly experience the richness of Indonesian culture. Over five days, they don't just learn in the classroom, but also explore local challenges that we hope will help shape a global perspective," Nasrul said as he delivered the committee chair's report on Wednesday (22/07/2026).

The Chair of the Science & Engineering Summer Camp 2026 Committee, Mohammad Nasrul Mubin, S.T., M.T., delivers his report.

He explained that the series of activities began with a Startup and Innovation Talk covering the basics of startup development, entrepreneurial mindset, design thinking, and problem-solving. Participants then took part in a field study to small and medium enterprise centers in Bayat, Klaten, to learn about the batik-making process and take part in a batik-making workshop.

The experience was rounded out with cultural immersion through a Wayang Orang (traditional Javanese dance drama) performance accompanied by gamelan music as a way to introduce the values of Indonesian culture to the international participants, with the entire program closing with an awarding ceremony and gala dinner.

Vice Rector V of UMS, Prof. Ir. Supriyono, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., emphasized that the summer camp focuses not only on strengthening academic competencies but also on shaping character, collaboration skills, and awareness of global challenges. According to him, the development of science and engineering must go hand in hand with ethical values so that it can produce solutions that benefit society.

"The Science & Engineering Summer Camp is not just an academic program. It's an opportunity to learn new things, meet new people, share ideas, and understand how science and engineering are used to solve various real-world problems. Make the most of this opportunity to actively engage in discussion, collaborate, and not be afraid to try new things," Supriyono said.

He added that today's global challenges require a young generation that not only excels in science and technology but also possesses critical thinking, communication, cross-disciplinary collaboration, integrity, and responsibility. Through learning experiences combined with interaction with the community and local culture, participants are expected to gain a broader perspective in designing solutions for various challenges of the future.

Writer: Alvian Rizki Prasetya

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid