UNDIP, Semarang (July 30, 2025) – A total of 29 international students from universities in Malaysia, Singapore, China, and the United States successfully took part in the 7th Psychology International Summer Community Engagement and Visit to Cultural Heritage (PSYCHE) 2025, held July 22–30, 2025, in Semarang, Indonesia. The program, organized by Universitas Diponegoro’s Faculty of Psychology, carried the theme “Integrating Cultural Wisdom and Digital Innovation for Empowering Mental Health in Communities.”
In her remarks, Prof. Dian Ratna Sawitri, S.Psi., M.Si., Dean of the Faculty of Psychology at UNDIP, emphasized a “shared commitment to more resilient communities, grow locally also globally.” She noted that PSYCHE serves as a platform for learning and sharing about culture, and how it can be integrated with digital innovation to improve community mental health. The program combined academic approaches, cross-cultural experiences, community-based activities, and international collaboration in the development of projects.
The program began on Universitas Diponegoro campus with a series of public lectures and workshops, including sessions with Prof. Mike Yough, Dr. Herdiyan Maulana, Dr. Adian Khoironi, S.T., M.Si., and Yohanis Franz La Kahija, M.Sc. Participants also joined traditional dance workshops, explored local arts at Klub Merby, visited Semarang’s Old Town, and engaged in team-building activities that strengthened bonds across nationalities.
In the second half of the program, students stayed with local families in a homestay program in Lerep Village, Semarang Regency. They participated in cultural and farming activities, learned Javanese, and joined local art performances, such as torch parades and traditional shows. Participants also explored the surrounding nature, including hiking to a local waterfall.
At the end of the program, participants developed and presented collaborative projects on mental health promotion that combined local cultural approaches with digital innovation. The presentations took place in a formal academic forum, followed by art performances and an official closing ceremony to mark the event’s completion.
The presence of students from various countries created a rich learning dynamic and strengthened the spirit of cross-cultural collaboration. The program not only broadened academic perspectives but also reinforced Universitas Diponegoro’s commitment to bridging local and global knowledge to achieve more inclusive and sustainable mental health outcomes. (Public Communication/UNDIP/F.Psi)