After a five-year hiatus, the Diponegoro International Youth Festival (DIYF) returned, hosted by Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) under the theme “World on a Plate, Culture on a Stage.” The grand finale, Cultural Night, took place at UNDIP’s Art Center Building, featuring vibrant performances of traditional arts by international and local students.
DIYF 2024 successfully took place on Friday, November 22, 2024, initiated by UNDIP’s International Office (Kantor Urusan Internasional / KUI), now a subunit of the Directorate of Reputation, Partnerships, and Global Connectivity under the coordination of Vice Rector IV.
The festival welcomed 71 international students from UNDIP and other universities in Semarang, including UNS, UDINUS, USM, UNIMUS, UNNES, and UPGRIS. Participants represented countries such as the Netherlands, Thailand, Malaysia, Germany, Afghanistan, Botswana, China, Ghana, Madagascar, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Papua New Guinea, India, Timor Leste, Yemen, Kiribati, Kenya, the Solomon Islands, the United States, and Poland.
Vice Rector IV UNDIP, Wijayanto, S.I.P., M.Si., Ph.D., warmly welcomed the international students and officially opened DIYF 2024. In his speech, he encouraged the younger generation to embody Diponegoro’s courageous spirit and emphasized the importance of global collaboration in addressing contemporary challenges. “This event is a melting pot of ideas. Your dreams have the power to change the future,” he stated.
Pulung Widhi Hari Hananto, S.H., M.H., LL.M., Deputy Director of Partnerships and Global Connectivity, expressed appreciation for the enthusiasm of the international students participating in DIYF 2024. He emphasized that reviving DIYF as an annual event is a strategic step to support UNDIP’s internationalization efforts. “We celebrate harmony in diversity. This event highlights UNDIP’s efforts to advance local cultural heritage alongside academic activities,” he said.
The event featured three main activities: a Culinary Festival, a Gala Dinner, and a Cultural Night. The Culinary Festival allowed international students to introduce traditional dishes from their home countries. For instance, Pakistan showcased nasi briyani, a crowd favorite, while Tajikistan served plov, a rice dish cooked with carrots, onions, and signature spices. Dutch students presented stroopwafels, thin, syrup-filled waffles famous for their sweet taste. Visitors could sample cuisines from various countries while learning the stories behind the dishes.
At the Cultural Night grand finale, the event opened with a performance by the Diponegoro Orchestra, accompanying Lalaina from Madagascar as she skillfully sang Chrisye’s “Pergilah Kasih.” Her performance was paired with a fashion show by international students.
International students also participated in traditional performances. Janne from Germany performed the Tor Tor dance alongside FEB’s UKMF group. Michalina from Poland showcased the Kuntulan and Gugur Gunung dances with the Faculty of Humanities (FIB) UNDIP students. Other highlights included the Saman dance by the Saman FIB UNDIP student group and the Gambang Semarang art performance by FIB. The evening concluded with a performance by UNDIP’s Faculty of Law Student Choir.
The Diponegoro International Youth Festival 2024 is expected to return even grander next year, strengthening UNDIP’s internationalization efforts and promoting Indonesia’s cultural diversity. This event underscores UNDIP’s commitment to becoming a destination for international students in support of its vision as a World Class University (WCU). (Titis, editor NH)
