Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) partnered with Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) in Kedah, Malaysia, to conduct an International Community Service Program in Malaysia. The Community Service program lasted approximately one month.

The fieldwork was carried out from July 3 to July 23, 2024. Alongside the International Community Service, the two universities from different countries also initiated plans for collaborative research, community service, and benchmarking for the development of research centers. The International Community Service was held at the UUM campus for 10 days, followed by activities in Kampong Padang Halban, Kedah, Malaysia, with participation from 17 students across 6 study programs from various faculties, include the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The community and local leaders of Kedah warmly welcomed the International Community Service program, and at the end of the Community Service activities, the local community and leaders of Padang Halban organized a feast, slaughtering a cow as a gesture of gratitude for the successful completion of the Community Service program.

“USK is very grateful to the people of Kampong Padang Halban for treating USK students like family and accepting them as their own,” said Prof. Dr. Mudatsir, M.Kes, Head of LPPM. The International Community Service program at USK has been ongoing since 2018 in Malaysia and Thailand, but was paused due to COVID-19 and resumed in 2024. Through the International Community Service, USK hopes that students can gain significant experiences living in a global context, apply their respective disciplines, introduce Indonesian and Acehnese culture abroad, and adapt to communities with different cultural backgrounds from Indonesia.

Prof. Madya Dr. Rohani Binti Abdullah, the head of the national student hostel at UUM, also expressed appreciation for the program, noting that it was conducted in line with local customs in Kampung Padang Halban, Kedah, Malaysia. “The community and local leaders of Kedah, Malaysia, are very hopeful that next year’s International Community Service program will continue,” she said.