For many students, learning is usually conducted inside the classroom. But for Radya Nasywa Zahira, joining the SMI Youth Exchange Singapore–Malaysia–Thailand opened the door to lessons that stretched across borders, cultures, and new experiences.

The SMI Youth Exchange is a program that brings together selected individuals to learn about diplomacy, education, and culture across three countries. Radya was chosen as a fully funded delegate for Batch 10, and for her, the program was an opportunity to gain real international exposure. She shared that it was not only about cultural exploration but also academic visits and meaningful discussions on global issues like the Sustainable Development Goals.

In August 2025, we joined 27 fellow academics from universities across Indonesia in a short course on Strengthening the Higher Education System in Indonesia (SHESI), delivered through the Australia Awards Indonesia program. The Crawford School of Public Policy hosted the course at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, and gave us the opportunity to engage with policymakers and universities.

In Canberra, we visited the Department of Education and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), gaining insights into national policy and regulations. In Victoria, we visited leading universities, including the University of Melbourne, RMIT, and Deakin, as well as Study Melbourne, the government body supporting international students. These experiences offered a comprehensive view of how Australia manages internationalisation across policy, governance, and practice.

A new semester means new faces on campus, and this time, one of them has come all the way from Myanmar to join the IUP Psychology program! Her name is Julia and she is here to explore a new country, meet new people, and experience student life in Indonesia.

Julia chose Indonesia because of its rich diversity, filled with culture and traditions. She mentioned that the people here are friendly and some of our customs such as the way we show respect to elders, holding our hands in front of our chest as a form of greeting or showing gratitude reminds her of Myanmar. 

On 20th May 2025, students from the IUP batch 2024 attended an info session featuring Donna Quest, who serves as the Senior Manager International Development of the University of Queensland. In an approximately 60 minute session, students were presented with the crucial information on the social and academic life within the University of Queensland, as well as the enchanting nature of Brisbane, the city where the campus is located. 

On Friday, April 11 2025, Faculty of Psychology conducted a taster lecture hosted by the School of Psychology University of Leeds. This session invited Dr. Madeleine Pownall as the speaker who accompanied students throughout the session. She is the Associate Professor in the School of Psychology University of Leeds with extensive areas of expertise, including the field of pedagogical research, social psychology, open science, feminist psychology, and psychological literacy. Within an approximately 60 minute session, students from batch 2023 and 2024 were guided through an advantageous learning experience discussing the social psychology of student life.