International Community Service: Humanities Lecturer Discusses Cross-Cultural Understanding at Attarkiah School, Thailand

HUMANIORA – (August 20, 2024) In an effort to strengthen academic networks and global contributions, Ribut Wahyudi, Ph.D., a lecturer at the Faculty of Humanities at UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang, was invited by Attarkiah Islamiyah School Narathiwat, Thailand, to be a guest speaker in a podcast titled "Cross-Cultural Understanding: A Postcolonial Perspective." The podcast was held on Thursday, August 15, 2024, in the Attarkiah Islamiyah School podcast room as part of the International Community Service program initiated by the Faculty of Humanities.

In the podcast session, Ribut Wahyudi emphasized the importance of natural cross-cultural interaction without the dominance of one nation over another. He highlighted that such interaction reflects the Quranic message that Allah created humans as nations and tribes so that they may know and understand one another.

Ribut also pointed out that in a globally connected world through technological advancements, cross-cultural interaction has become an inevitable necessity. He stressed that understanding and appreciating cultural differences is key to creating harmony amid diversity.

In addition to discussing spiritual and theological aspects, Ribut Wahyudi invited the audience to reflect on how postcolonial culture can be understood and appreciated in the modern context. According to him, the postcolonial approach opens up space for equal and respectful dialogue between different cultures without ignoring the experiences and histories of each nation.

This podcast served not only as a platform for academic discussion but also as a medium to spread ideas about the importance of healthy and productive cultural interactions in an increasingly global world. By participating in this event, Attarkiah School and UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang demonstrated their commitment to supporting efforts to build better cross-cultural understanding in the international community.

This series of activities is expected to provide new insights to participants and strengthen UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang's international reputation in its contribution to global learning and community service. [al]