Bandung, UPI
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) welcomed a delegation of students from several Malaysian universities as part of an international collaboration initiative titled the International Volunteering Programme 3.0 – “Mesra” (Students Together with Communities/Mahasiswa Bersama Masyarakat). The group was officially received on Monday (Jan 5) at the UPI Rectorate Building by the Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Alumni, and Business, Prof. Dr. phil. Yudi Sukmayadi, M.Pd.
The collaboration brings together students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) as the program initiator, alongside participants from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Universiti Teknologi Petronas, who are working in partnership with UPI students as hosts.
Prof. Yudi Sukmayadi warmly welcomed the Malaysian delegation, describing the international partnership as a strategic step toward developing student leadership on a global scale.
“This International Mesra Collaboration is not only an opportunity for international friendship but also expected to generate new approaches for nurturing student leadership at the global level,” he explained. Furthermore, he emphasized that the program aligns with UPI’s vision of preparing students to become future leaders who care about society and the environment while contributing to national development.
The Malaysian delegation was led by Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Che Ghani bin Che Kob, Chief/Principal of the Off-Campus Residential College at UPSI in Tanjung Malim, Perak. He explained that Mesra in Malay means students together with the community, which serves as the program’s guiding spirit. “This Mesra Collaboration Program is an international volunteer and community service initiative designed to provide hands-on experience for students from various universities to engage directly with communities,” he said.
UPI was chosen as a partner due to its shared institutional characteristics with UPSI and their long-standing collaboration. This marks the third series of the program, following its previous implementation at Universitas Islam Negeri Sultan Maulana Hasanuddin Banten.
Meanwhile, UPI’s Director of Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. Siti Nurbayani K., M.Si., explained that the initiative combines international volunteering with academic activities and student leadership development.
“This program involves students from UPSI, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Universiti Teknologi Petronas, and UPI in volunteer work, academic discussions, and institutional visits as part of benchmarking student affairs management,” she stated.
The program includes lecturer discussions, cross-border student interactions, and community service activities in mosques surrounding the UPI campus. In total, the Malaysian delegation consisted of 22 participants, including 17 students and several lecturers and accompanying officials.
Importantly, the International Volunteering Programme 3.0 – Mesra contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative supports SDG 4: Quality Education through experiential learning opportunities that enrich students’ global competencies. It also advances SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by fostering cross-border collaboration between higher education institutions, and SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities through student engagement in community service.
Through this collaborative approach, students not only gain international exposure but are also encouraged to become change agents equipped with social awareness, global perspectives, and a strong commitment to sustainable development.
UPI hopes that this international partnership will continue to grow and serve as a best-practice model for student development grounded in community engagement and global collaboration. (Ajeng)