Empowering students through experiential learning across Indonesia and Malaysia

The past month has seen a range of meaningful student engagement activities across Indonesia and Malaysia, designed to inspire students to pursue higher education, support personal development and prepare them for career success.

A key highlight was the visit of 78 students from Thursina International Islamic Boarding School in Malang to Deakin Lancaster University Indonesia (DLI) in Bandung. The visit commenced with welcome addresses from Prof. Greg Barton, DLI Rector, and Pak Arifin Fu, DLI Chief Operating Officer, who encouraged students to pursue international opportunities while studying close to home.

In Malaysia, a series of university and career readiness workshops continued to connect students and counsellors with international study opportunities. Despite challenging haze conditions, Hana Hassan, Schools & Government Liaison Manager – South East Asia (Maritime) participated virtually in the Forest City International School University Fair, engaging students in discussions about international education and university pathways.

Workshops at Epsom College Malaysia and Straits International School Rawang focused on personal branding, career exploration and informed decision-making about future studies. A key discussion centred on the question, “What do you want people to remember you for?”, encouraging students to reflect on their values, aspirations and personal identities. Gemma, University Guidance and Career Counsellor at Epsom College, highlighted this segment as one of her favourite parts of the presentation, noting that it resonated strongly with students.

At Straits International School Rawang, students also participated in a Career Discovery Workshop to identify their strengths and interests, explore relevant university pathways and consider potential career opportunities. The session guided students in developing a practical action plan to help them work towards their future career goals.

The impact of these sessions was reflected in feedback from Tapisha, Counsellor at Straits International School Rawang, who praised Hana’s ability to engage students and create a welcoming learning environment:

“Our Year 10 and 11 cohort is relatively small and can sometimes be reserved during presentations. Despite this, Hana quickly built a strong rapport with the students, creating a comfortable and engaging environment that encouraged them to participate, share their thoughts, and respond to her questions. She communicated clearly, articulated her points effectively, and presented the content in a way that was both relatable and easy for students to understand.”

Across Indonesia and Malaysia, these engagements demonstrate a continued commitment to empowering students with the knowledge, confidence and global perspectives they need to make informed decisions about their higher education and future careers.