Gresik, June 3, 2025 – Saniya Najwa Arsyad, a student of the Early Childhood Islamic Education Study Program (PIAUD), Faculty of Islamic Studies, Universitas Muhammadiyah Gresik, has made a remarkable achievement by being selected for the International Internship & Community Service Program. The program is organized by Ban Dongnoi Khoknongkae School under the Loei Provincial Education Office, Thailand, and will take place from June 2 to November 30, 2025. For Saniya, this opportunity is a golden moment to develop her potential while expanding global insights, especially in the field of early childhood education. “I feel very grateful to have earned this trust,” she said enthusiastically.

Her motivation to join the program comes from a strong desire to grow professionally and experience learning in an international setting. “I joined this program not only to gain experience, but also to enhance my professional skills and broaden my global perspective in the field of education,” said Saniya. She believes that international exposure will bring great added value to her development as a future educator. In addition, she sees this program as a bridge to directly understand the education system of another country.

Saniya also emphasized the importance of being in a multicultural environment to shape adaptive and competitive educators. “Being in a multicultural setting truly helps me improve my cross-cultural communication skills and strengthen my competitiveness as a teacher,” she explained. She felt that direct teaching experience abroad allowed her to absorb best practices from different education systems. This will enrich her methods and teaching approach when she returns to Indonesia.

However, she admitted that the process of adaptation comes with its own challenges. “Adapting to local customs and practices in Thailand is not easy. I really have to learn to respect their traditions as a form of appreciation for different cultures,” said Saniya. She acknowledged that finding food that matched her usual habits and preferences as an Indonesian student was quite difficult. Even so, she viewed all these challenges as a valuable learning process that builds her resilience and flexibility.

She first learned about the program from the Head of the PIAUD Study Program, Mrs. Fitri Ayu Fatmawati, M.Pd., who actively encourages students to explore international opportunities. “After hearing the complete explanation about the benefits and the chances offered, I was immediately interested and decided to register,” she said. She prepared herself seriously and felt very grateful when she was finally chosen as one of the participants. According to her, the selection process ignited her enthusiasm to keep improving and give her best.

When asked about her direct experience in Thailand, Saniya responded with excitement. “Joining an international internship in Thailand provides a very valuable experience for me. I directly experienced differences in work culture, lifestyle, and how to communicate across cultures, which really enriched my perspective,” she said. She described Thailand as a friendly country full of inspiring life experiences. She learned many new things from both the working environment and her daily social interactions.

This experience also opened her perspective to the importance of stepping out of her comfort zone. “For friends who have the opportunity, don’t hesitate to join programs like this. Don’t be afraid of differences, because it is through those differences that we learn and grow,” she encouraged. She also expressed her gratitude to everyone who supported her, especially her parents. “The moral support from my family made me more confident and optimistic to complete this program successfully,” she concluded.

Congratulations to Saniya Najwa Arsyad for this extraordinary achievement. May her international internship experience in Thailand bring new knowledge, perspectives, and strength that will benefit the field of education in Indonesia. May her journey and dedication inspire the younger generation to dare to dream and pursue the best opportunities on the global stage.