As global higher education increasingly emphasizes international mobility and cross-border engagement, UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta continues to expand its global footprint through student participation in international institutional settings. The recent international internship of Julia Syifa Az-Zahra at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Astana, Kazakhstan, reflects the university’s growing commitment to preparing globally competent graduates.

Zahra, an undergraduate student of English Literature from the Faculty of Adab and Cultural Sciences, began her internship on 6 November 2025. Over nearly three months, she participated in a structured rotational placement across four core functions of the embassy: information, social and cultural affairs; administration; protocol, consular services and citizen protection; as well as economic, political and digital affairs. The cross-functional exposure provided direct insight into the operational dimensions of Indonesian diplomacy and international institutional practice.

Her involvement extended to various strategic engagements, including official receptions, cultural events, and sports-related diplomatic activities. Such participation underscores the role of students not only as academic learners, but as contributors to people-to-people diplomacy and international cultural exchange.

A highlight of her internship was her participation in the Embassy’s Diplomatic Reception, where she performed the Malay Persembahan Dance from Sumatra before an international audience. While not formally trained as a dancer, Zahra undertook intensive preparation—demonstrating adaptability and intercultural representation in a diplomatic context.

Reflecting on the experience, Zahra emphasized that the internship strengthened her understanding of national identity within a global environment. For her, the program represented more than professional exposure; it was a formative process in developing cross-cultural communication skills, institutional awareness, and global confidence.

Her academic background in English Literature played a significant role in supporting her tasks at the embassy. Competencies in critical thinking, analytical writing, textual interpretation, and cultural sensitivity contributed to her work in drafting reports, preparing written communications, and producing public communication content. Equally important were the reflective, adaptive, and open-minded values cultivated within UIN Sunan Kalijaga’s academic environment.

The experience in Astana also required adaptation to a diplomatic institution with high professional standards, limited Russian language proficiency, and Kazakhstan’s extreme climate conditions. These challenges strengthened resilience, discipline, and intercultural readiness—qualities increasingly essential in global professional environments.

Through initiatives such as international internships within diplomatic institutions, UIN Sunan Kalijaga demonstrates its commitment to fostering internationally engaged graduates. By integrating academic training with real-world global exposure, the university advances its role in nurturing students who are academically grounded, culturally literate, and prepared to contribute within international contexts.

(humassk)