Why Students Should Join ISCDC or Similar Program
ISCDC 2025 is a seven-day interdisciplinary program that brought together 70 students and staff from Universitas Islam Indonesia with participants from various faculties at Universiti Utara Malaysia. Held at UUM in Sintok, Kedah, the event created a dynamic space for cultural exchange, creative collaboration, and academic development. The program featured four main competition categories: essay writing, reel challenge, cooking, and poster design, each designed to showcase participants’ creativity and analytical skills. Its purpose was to strengthen institutional partnerships between UUM and UII, enrich interdisciplinary learning through cultural immersion, and develop students’ abilities in research, writing, multimedia production, design, and culinary arts, while highlighting Alor Setar’s cultural richness as a reflection of ASEAN values. Managed by UUM’s SCIMPA, SOIS, and STHEM, the event combined several activities, academic mentoring, student buddies support, and cultural performances.
Within this program, I participated in an interdisciplinary competition as part of a six-member group, and our teamwork played a crucial role in our success. We collaborated across all categories but divided tasks according to our individual strengths, ensuring that each member could contribute effectively. As a Communication student, I focused mainly on the poster design category alongside one of my other teammates, while also supporting others in preparing their essay and reel competition entries. This shared effort not only strengthened our group dynamics but also improved the quality of our work. Our combined effort resulted in a rewarding outcome, as we won third place in both the Reel Challenge and the Essay Competition, which made the overall experience motivating and memorable.
Participating in such competitions that align with a student’s academic background is important because it helps strengthen confidence and deepen one’s skills in a meaningful way. When students choose categories that match their interests—such as communication students working on posters or international relations students focusing on essays—they feel more motivated, engaged, and capable. This alignment allows them to apply what they learn in class to real projects, think more creatively, and improve at a faster pace. Even without winning, the process itself becomes valuable, as it directly supports their academic development and future career path.
Equally important is joining programs like ISCDC, which offer learning experiences that cannot be gained from classroom lessons alone. Traveling to a new environment, observing different cultures, and interacting with people from diverse backgrounds make learning more vivid and meaningful. Students gain a deeper understanding of communication, identity, and cultural dynamics simply by being present and noticing how people behave and live. These programs also help students grow personally by teaching them how to work in teams, manage time, handle pressure, and adapt to unfamiliar situations. Through collaboration and cultural immersion, students return with new perspectives, stronger skills, and greater confidence that benefits both their academic journey and future professional opportunities.
In the end, for any student who pushes themselves to join such programs, just know that it will be a meaningful step that you take toward becoming more mature, more skilled, and more confident. It is an experience that will stay with you long after the competition or program ends, because it will teach you lessons that continue to shape your academic and personal journey.
Written by: Thrya Abdulraheem Motea Al-aqab
Edited by: Meigitaria Sanita
