UNDIP, Semarang (25/9) – Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP) welcomed international students for the 2025/2026 and 2026/2027 academic years through the Diponegoro International Orientation (DIO) Day, held on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Oak Tree Emerald Hotel in Semarang. Organized by UNDIP’s International Office (KUI), the event aimed to introduce students to UNDIP, one of Indonesia’s leading research universities, as well as to Semarang, a city with a rich multicultural history.
Wijayanto, S.I.P., M.Si., Ph.D., Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, Cooperation, and Public Communication, officially opened DIO Day 2026 and welcomed all international students to UNDIP’s Semarang campus. “Welcome to UNDIP, a university that is noble and valuable. Being noble means having highly reputable journals and contributing to building a global epistemic community. We then transform our research outcomes into technological innovations that benefit society,” he explained.
Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr.rer.nat. Ir. Heru Susanto, S.T., M.M., M.T., encouraged international students to make the most of their educational experience in Indonesia. “There are two reasons why education is important. The first is to become a happy person, and to achieve happiness, we need competence. The second is to become a good person. Being happy and being a good person are equally important in spreading positive energy. While pursuing their studies, international students can also learn to increase their awareness,” he said.
A total of 216 UNDIP international students came from various countries, including the Netherlands, Russia, Japan, Pakistan, India, China, Germany, South Africa, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, and many others. They were admitted through several educational schemes, including the Diponegoro Global Scholarship (DGS) 2025 and 2026; Diponegoro Exchange Experience Programme (DEEP) Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Fall 2026; Developing Countries Partnership or (Kemitraan Negara Berkembang / KNB) Scholarship 2025 and 2026; Darmasiswa Indonesian Scholarship 2026; and the regular non-scholarship International Undergraduate Program (IUP).
Pulung Widhi Hari Hananto, S.H., M.H., LL.M., Deputy Director for Partnerships and Global Connectivity, expressed his appreciation for the international students’ enthusiasm in participating in the series of activities. “This is more than just a gathering. This forum supports the internationalization of higher education and our efforts to build an inclusive university with a global perspective,” he explained.
During the first session, Director of Academic Affairs, Prof. Dr.nat.tech. Siswo Sumardiono, S.T., M.T., explained UNDIP’s academic systems and services. After completing online verification, students will receive a Student Identity Card. Prof. Siswo also introduced the SSO and SIAP services that students will use throughout their studies. “Assessments may include written examinations, practical examinations, research projects, and thesis writing for master’s students,” he added.
The second session was delivered by Abdul Rohman, S.Hum., Manager of the Directorate of Partnerships and Global Connectivity, under the topics “Cross-Cultural Understanding” and “Foreign Nationals Monitoring.” Students were introduced to interesting facts about Indonesia, including everyday Indonesian expressions, ethnic and religious diversity, culture, and traditional Indonesian cuisine.
Most international students had already tried popular Indonesian dishes such as nasi goreng and satay, while some were also familiar with nasi tumpeng, a traditional cone-shaped yellow rice dish.
During the ice-breaking session, the students enthusiastically participated in a quiz about Indonesia. Sarah from Germany won first place, Shin from Malaysia took second place, and Aniek from the Netherlands finished third.
The event continued with a City Tour using two buses, taking international students to Lawang Sewu, one of Semarang’s historical landmarks located in the Tugu Muda area. The students explored the Lawang Sewu heritage site, which features Dutch colonial architecture, while learning about the city’s multicultural history.
In the future, international students will also have opportunities to visit other cultural heritage sites in Semarang listed in the International Student Handbook distributed by UNDIP’s International Office. Various cross-cultural programs will continue to be organized by Universitas Diponegoro to support its journey toward becoming a World-Class University. (Public Communication/UNDIP/Tts)
