Gresik, 6 October 2025— The atmosphere at Universitas Muhammadiyah Gresik (UMG) has become even more vibrant with the arrival of new international students who have officially started the BIPA (Bahasa Indonesia bagi Penutur Asing / Indonesian Language for Foreign Speakers) class organized by the International Relations Office (IRO) UMG.

The BIPA class marks the first step for international students to get closer to the Indonesian language and culture. Participants from various countries including Comoros, Sudan, Thailand, and Yemen appeared enthusiastic as they joined the first session, which was filled with interaction and warmth. Through this program, IRO UMG aims to help international students adapt to campus life and improve their communication skills in Indonesian, both for academic and daily use.

The Head of IRO UMG, Paulina, S.Pd., M.Pd., explained that the program is not only about learning a language but also serves as a bridge for cross-cultural friendship. “We want international students to feel at home here. Learning the Indonesian language is the first step to understanding the character and culture of our society,” she said. The BIPA class will be conducted regularly with a communicative learning approach, complemented by various cultural activities such as language games, local visits, and real-life conversation practice around the campus. The enthusiasm shown by the international students on the first day proves that the Indonesian language can unite the spirit of learning across nations under the roof of UMG.