Classroom as a Space for Cultural Exchange and Learning

On the third day of the student exchange (inbound) program at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), delegates from Uzbekistan joined classroom learning activities with UMS students.

A total of seven management students from Millat Umidi University took part in a class organized by the UMS Management Program on Wednesday (7/5). Together with their Indonesian peers, the Uzbekistan students showed great enthusiasm as they listened to a lecture on digital-era entrepreneurship delivered by UMS Management lecturer Kussudyarsana, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D.

Uud emphasized that entrepreneurship is crucial for students. The goal is to provide them with alternative career paths without relying solely on becoming employees.

“Entrepreneurship must be developed because it allows students to create new businesses, open job opportunities, and contribute to their communities, society, and the nation,” he said.

He also actively engaged the Uzbekistan students in discussion. The seven international students eagerly shared their experiences and participated in the conversation with Uud.

Uud sees the presence of Uzbekistan students in face-to-face classes as highly valuable, as it facilitates cultural interaction between UMS students and their peers from Uzbekistan.

“In today’s global context, we are bound to interact with people from various countries. Through this program, UMS students can gain a deeper understanding of cultural differences,” Uud added.

Beyond listening to the lecture, the Uzbekistan students also engaged in group discussions aimed at identifying local problems and generating ideas for new entrepreneurial ventures.

The students were divided into five groups, each including one to two international students. They actively exchanged ideas and collaborated on proposing solutions.

UMS and Uzbekistan students posed for a group photo after the entrepreneurship class in the Management Program's smart classroom on Wednesday, May 7, 2025. Luqman Hakim/UMS PR

One of the Uzbek students, Abdulaziz Rikhsiboev, shared that he gained a lot of new experiences from the day’s class session. He noted that discussing ideas with Indonesian students left a lasting impression, as everyone was confident in voicing their thoughts.

He praised the UMS students for their detailed situational analysis. After the group discussion concluded, Abdulaziz had the opportunity to present his group's results in front of the class.

“Mr. Uud did his best in delivering the material, and the class was very interactive. The students were also incredibly capable in analyzing problems comprehensively,” he said proudly.

Writer: Gede Arga Adrian

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid