PENANG, October 2015 – The International Office Universiti Sains Malaysia (IOUSM) recently held the International Day 2015 programme with the aim of promoting and sharing the cultures of various countries with the USM community, which also saw the attendance of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International Affairs), Professor Dato’ Dr. Ahmad Shukri Mustapa Kamal.

The event which began at 10.00 am until 4.00 pm managed to attract more than 500 visitors especially from among the USM community. 

The Director of IOUSM, Associate Professor Dr. Anees Janee Ali @ Hamid said, the International Day 2015 programme held this year was organised together with the international students studying at USM, and highlighted the various dishes which were specially prepared and originating from 10 different countries, among which were Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq and others including Malaysia.

“This event served to strengthen relations between both the local and international students, as they would be able to celebrate the various cultural diversities, while having a better understanding of each other and sharing experiences with the different communities regardless of background, and at the same time enjoying the many varieties of dishes from different countries,” said Anees Janee.

He hoped that such a programme would be able to provide the international students with an opportunity to share the culture and heritage of their respective countries with the general public.

 

The Project Director of International Day 2015, Oday Qusay Abdul Qader, 36, said this was the second year in the organisation of the programme which was facilitated by the international students from various countries currently pursuing their studies at USM.

“In addition to the sale of various food items at reasonable prices, traditional and international games were also prepared in one section for the visitors to try them out, such as carrom, ‘congkak’, chess and a few others,” said the Doctoral candidate in Interior Design from the School of Housing, Building and Planning.

Meanwhile, President of the Postgraduate Student Association (PSA), Saiful Yusoff said, other associations which also participated in the organisation of the programme were PSA, Buddies USM, Golden Key and Non-Hostelite Students Association (PETAS).

“This programme also served as a preface leading to the organisation of the International Week which would be held this coming December,” said Saiful.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin

Text: Hafiz Meah Ghouse Meah

Photos: Muhammad Firdaus Khiruddin