The Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY), hosted a Cultural Night as part of the visit of Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia, on 4 September 2026. Held on the 7th floor of the New Building of the Faculty of Psychology UNY, the event provided a vibrant space for students and academic communities from Indonesia and Malaysia to connect through cultural performances, creativity, and shared experiences. Representatives from Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta (UMBY) also attended the event as part of their participation in the Poster Competition, adding another dimension of academic and cultural exchange to the occasion.

The Cultural Night was one of the highlights of the UPSI Malaysia visit to the Faculty of Psychology UNY. While academic visits are commonly centred on discussions, presentations, and knowledge exchange, this event offered a more informal and human-centred form of interaction through art and culture. The gathering demonstrated that international partnerships in higher education can be strengthened not only through academic and research collaboration, but also through shared experiences that allow students and academic communities to appreciate different cultural backgrounds, values, and traditions. In an increasingly interconnected higher education environment, such experiences are valuable in fostering openness, mutual respect, and intercultural understanding.

The event began with welcoming remarks from the Dean of the Faculty of Psychology UNY, followed by remarks from a representative of UPSI Malaysia. The two addresses expressed appreciation for the visit and highlighted the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for interaction between the academic communities of Indonesia and Malaysia. The atmosphere then became increasingly lively as the participants enjoyed a series of cultural performances representing the creativity and cultural diversity of the participating institutions. One of the highlights of the evening was the Ratoe Jaroe dance, performed by students of the Faculty of Psychology UNY. Known for its synchronised movements, rhythm, and strong emphasis on group coordination, the performance represented not only an Indonesian cultural tradition but also values of togetherness, discipline, and collaboration. Through this performance, the UPSI delegation and other participants were given an opportunity to experience one of Indonesia’s rich cultural traditions more closely. Presenting traditional art within an international academic setting also demonstrated how universities can contribute to cultural preservation while integrating cultural heritage into meaningful educational experiences.

The cultural programme continued with a performance by the UPSI Malaysia delegation, which brought elements of Malaysian culture and creativity into the evening. The performance created an opportunity for participants to experience and appreciate cultural expressions from a neighbouring country in a direct and engaging way. Representatives of Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta (UMBY) also contributed a cultural performance as part of the programme. Bringing together representatives from three higher education institutions in one cultural setting created a warm and inclusive atmosphere while demonstrating how cultural diversity can become a bridge for stronger academic and interpersonal connections.

In addition to the cultural performances, the Cultural Night also provided a moment to recognise students’ creativity and academic communication skills through the Poster Competition conducted as part of the broader programme. The competition encouraged participants to communicate ideas through visual media while developing their ability to present academic content in an accessible and creative manner. Following the cultural performances, prizes were presented to the winners of the Poster Competition as an appreciation of their participation, creativity, and quality of work. The involvement of UMBY representatives in the competition further strengthened the collaborative dimension of the event by bringing students from different institutions together in an academic and creative activity. The Cultural Night also contributed to students’ development of competencies for participation in an increasingly global environment. Direct interaction with students and academic representatives from Malaysia provided opportunities to broaden perspectives, strengthen communication skills, and develop greater openness towards different ways of thinking and interacting. For psychology students in particular, intercultural experiences are highly relevant because understanding human behaviour requires attention to cultural context. Differences in values, social practices, interpersonal communication, and cultural expression are important considerations in developing a more comprehensive understanding of human development and behaviour. In this regard, intercultural activities such as the Cultural Night complement formal classroom learning by providing students with meaningful opportunities for experiential learning.

From the perspective of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the event contributed to SDG 4: Quality Education by providing students with broader, inclusive, and contextual learning experiences. Quality education extends beyond knowledge transfer in the classroom and includes opportunities for students to develop communication skills, creativity, collaboration, and intercultural competence. The interaction between students and academic communities from Indonesia and Malaysia through cultural performances, academic competitions, and social engagement represented an important form of experiential learning that prepares students to participate confidently in increasingly global academic and professional environments.

The Cultural Night also supported SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals by strengthening networks and relationships among higher education institutions. The involvement of the Faculty of Psychology UNY, UPSI Malaysia, and UMBY demonstrated how institutional partnerships can be developed through diverse forms of engagement, ranging from academic visits and knowledge exchange to student activities, competitions, and cultural programmes. Relationships established through such interactions may provide a foundation for broader and more sustainable collaboration in the future, including education, research, community engagement, student mobility, and other international academic initiatives.

Furthermore, the cultural dimension of the event contributed to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, particularly through the appreciation and preservation of cultural heritage as an important component of community identity. Higher education institutions have a strategic role in creating spaces where younger generations can learn about, perform, and appreciate cultural heritage within contemporary contexts. The Ratoe Jaroe performance by students of the Faculty of Psychology UNY, together with cultural performances from UPSI Malaysia and UMBY, demonstrated that cultural diversity does not have to create distance between communities. Instead, it can serve as a source of shared learning and a foundation for stronger connections across borders. The Cultural Night concluded with a group photograph involving the participating delegations and guests. The moment captured not only the conclusion of the evening but also the spirit of togetherness that characterised the entire programme. The warm interaction throughout the event demonstrated that international engagement in higher education can be strengthened through meaningful encounters in which academic exchange, culture, creativity, and friendship come together in the same space.

Through the Cultural Night held as part of the UPSI Malaysia visit, the Faculty of Psychology UNY reaffirmed its commitment to fostering an academic environment that embraces international collaboration, values cultural diversity, and provides students with broader learning experiences. The event demonstrated that internationalisation in higher education extends beyond academic mobility and institutional agreements; it also involves developing intercultural understanding and meaningful human connections. With this spirit, the Faculty of Psychology UNY continues to transform international encounters into opportunities to learn, share, and build sustainable networks for the advancement of psychology education and academic collaboration in the future.