International Seminar 2026

International Seminar

On Thursday, September 3, 2026, the English Department Student Association (EDSA) of UIN Ar-Raniry held the International Seminar English Education (ISSE) Vol. 3 at the university's Theater Hall, themed "Bridging Cultures, Embracing Change: From Cultural Differences to Global Understanding." The event featured speakers Mr. Ken Atkinson, Mr. George F. Ball, and Ms. Cali Atkinson, with Jana Safira Jarjani as moderator, and was attended by students and academic staff. Committee Chair Akrim Mufaddhil hoped the seminar would be a space where ideas and perspectives could meet rather than a one-way transfer of knowledge, while the Head of the English Education Study Program, Syarifah Dahliana, encouraged participants to see cultural differences as bridges rather than barriers. Vice Dean III Yusran also reminded attendees that English proficiency alone should not be treated as a measure of intelligence, and the event received support from Cinta Baca as its sponsor.

During the main session, the speakers shared insights on cross-cultural communication in an increasingly borderless digital world, emphasizing that cultural understanding, empathy, and effective communication are qualities employers value as much as language skills. Drawing from their own international work experience, they highlighted that every culture communicates differently and that mistakes are a natural part of learning to navigate multicultural environments. The seminar closed with a reflection from moderator Jana Safira Jarjani, who reminded participants that choosing respect and genuine listening over assumption is what turns difference into a bridge rather than a barrier — a message EDSA hopes will inspire students to build more open, communicative, and globally engaged mindsets.