On April 14th, 2025, the International Affairs and Cooperation Office (IACO) of Soegijapranata Catholic University (SCU) held its annual signature event, “Winter Camp”, with the aim of introducing Indonesian culture to international students. This year, Winter Camp was presented in a hybrid format and held in conjunction with “International Day” at the Agnes Widanti Auditorium, SCU Campus 1 Bendan.
Carrying the theme “Ballad of Ramayana,” the event featured an engaging performance by 15 SCU students from Kembangtaru, a traditional dance group, and Teater Anting. They presented the classic story of Ramayana in the form of an English-language drama, blending cultural heritage with a modern, accessible twist. The performance not only captivated SCU students but also received enthusiastic responses from international attendees. Among the offline audience were students from the Darmasiswa Scholarship Program representing various universities in Semarang, while online viewers joined from Asia University Taiwan, Providence University Taiwan, University of the Immaculate Conception (Philippines), and De La Salle University (Philippines).
Amelia Ananda Vidi Astuti, the student director and a 2023 Management student, explained the choice of Ramayana as a way to introduce Indonesian romantic narratives, particularly those rooted in Javanese culture. “It’s not only Romeo and Juliet or Sleeping Beauty from the West that deserve attention,” she said. “We have our own rich and meaningful stories.” She also highlighted that the Ramayana appears in Balinese, Indian, and Thai cultures, showing its cross-cultural relevance.
Beyond the cultural value, Amelia emphasized the moral messages embedded in the story— loyalty, persistence, courage, and honesty. Her motivation was also driven by the fading popularity of Ramayana among younger generations: “I hope this performance becomes a platform for my peers to help preserve our cultural heritage.”
Angelika Riyandari, Ph.D., Head of IACO SCU, stated that the event not only served as a platform for cultural exchange, but also as an opportunity to foster stronger connections between SCU and international students. “We want to encourage our students to explore global experiences,” she noted. Through Winter Camp and International Day, students could learn about various international opportunities including global volunteer programs, student exchanges, student camps, research and teaching internships, and international courses offered in collaboration with partners such as AIESEC and Dejavato.
SCU students who had participated in international mobility programs were also invited to share their personal experiences. “We want to give prospective applicants a real insight into what to expect by hearing directly from their peers,” Dr. Angelika added. IACO also invited its international partners to take part in the event by opening exhibition booths, such as Centre of Language Training– Faculty of Language and Arts (CLT-FLA), offering foreign language programs in collaboration with Alliance Française (France), Chalk and Talk, offering Korean and Mandarin language courses in collaboration with Englishpreneurship students, and IDP, providing information on study abroad programs and the IELTS Test.
Source: SCU