UMS Graduate from Fiji Wears Traditional Attire at Graduation

A different atmosphere was seen during the graduation ceremony at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) when one of the international graduates appeared wearing traditional clothing from her home country, showcasing success through culture.

Veville Volatabu Nabalarua, an alumna of the Management Program at UMS from Fiji, introduced a culturally rich traditional outfit during the third graduation period held at the Edutorium KH Ahmad Dahlan on Saturday (4/42026).

The woman, who is affectionately known as Ve, wore traditional Fijian attire typically used for important celebrations such as weddings, birthdays, and major achievements. The outfit is unique as it is made from natural materials.

“This is our traditional clothing, usually worn during major celebrations. It is made from natural materials like processed tree bark. It symbolizes a significant achievement,” explained Ve.

“Ini adalah pakaian tradisional kami, biasanya dipakai saat perayaan besar. Terbuat dari bahan alami seperti pohon yang diproses secara khusus. Ini melambangkan pencapaian besar,” jelas Ve. 

Kebersamaan Rektor UMS Prof Harun Joko Prayitno, M.Hum. dengan Veville Volatabu Nabalarua di podium Upacara Wisuda Periode III UMS, 4 April 2026. Humas/Imam Safii

For Ve, wearing traditional attire on graduation day symbolized her long journey in pursuing higher education at UMS. She shared that her journey from Fiji to Indonesia took approximately two days.

“My journey to UMS took about two days. From Fiji to Singapore was around 10 hours, followed by a transit and overnight stay, then another two-hour flight to Indonesia,” she said.

Despite coming from a distant country, Ve admitted she felt comfortable studying at UMS. The friendly environment helped her adapt quickly and made Indonesia feel like a second home.

Ve also shared that she often held back tears when realizing that her time studying in Indonesia had come to an end. “Indonesia feels like my second home. Every time I think about going back, it feels like leaving home and family. The four years here have been very meaningful,” she said.

Ve was a scholarship recipient during her studies at UMS. She hopes that more students from Fiji can experience the same opportunity, including introducing their culture in an international environment like UMS.

“I hope more students from Fiji come to UMS because it is truly outstanding. I really love this place,” she concluded.

Writer: Fika Annisa’ Sholihah

Editor: Maysali Sudarwati

Translator: Farizal Luqman Majid