An International Student Gathering and Iftar was held at the UNHAS Hotel & Convention on the 15th day of Ramadan on Thursday, April 6, 2023. The Rector and Secretary of Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) attended the event, as did all international students, Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) alumni, and student volunteers from International Office (IO) UNHAS. In her remarks, the Head of IO, Andi Masyitha Irwan, S.Kep.,Ns., MAN., Ph.D., expressed her hope that this event would be a memorable Ramadan experience for international students in Makassar. The Rector, Prof. Jamalauddin Jompa, M.Sc, also said his wishes that this event can provide an opportunity for international students to learn about Ramadan in Makassar, and foster connections and friendships among one another.
One of the agendas for this event was a “Tausiah (Sermon) Ramadan” delivered by Muhammad Ridwan, M.A., the Secretary of the IO. In his Tausiah, he highlighted gratitude as one of the values we could learn during Ramadan, emphasizing that we should be grateful for every little thing, as it could be a blessing from God, Allah SWT. He also shared cultural moments in Indonesia that we could only experience during Ramadan, such as buying Takjil (sweets for breakfast) from street vendors who sold various typical snacks and desserts during the holy month.
This year marks the first Ramadan experience in Makassar for international students batch 2022 and the second year or more for other students. In March 2023, UNHAS currently has around 180 students in total from 27 different countries. They were excited to celebrate Ramadan in Makassar, believing it would be a fantastic experience during their studies at UNHAS. Moreover, this event allowed local and international students, IISMA alumni, and student volunteers to connect and engage with each other. Notably, this event was not limited to Moslem students and welcomed participants from all religions, promoting diversity and tolerance culture in Indonesia. Finally, this event could be held annually to celebrate Ramadan.
