International Students Society of UniSZA

🌍✨ 2nd Academic & Cultural Exchange Talks – May Session ✨🌍

The 2nd Academic & Cultural Exchange Talks – May Session was successfully held on 24th May 2026, organized by the International Student Society (ISS), UniSZA and the International Center (IC), UniSZA in collaboration with Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED), Indonesia.

The session brought together international students, postgraduate scholars, researchers, and participants from various institutions for a meaningful exchange of academic knowledge and intercultural experiences.

We were honored to have two distinguished speakers for this session:

🎤 Dr. Ong Yew Chuan
Deputy Dean of Student Affairs and Alumni, Faculty of Informatics and Computing, UniSZA
Topic: “Simplifying Literature Review with Siswa AI”

Dr. Ong shared valuable insights on the use of Artificial Intelligence in academic research and demonstrated how Siswa AI can support researchers and students in conducting literature reviews more efficiently and effectively.

🎤 Ms. Merry Luz Molina
International Student, Magister Program of English Applied Linguistics, UNIMED
Licensed Teacher from the Philippines

Ms. Merry Luz Molina shared her inspiring experiences and perspectives as an international educator and student, contributing greatly to the intercultural and academic discussions during the session.

We would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the organizers of this successful program:
✨ Dr. Fahri Haswani, Head of Doctoral Study Program, FBS UNIMED
✨ Dr. Winda Setiasari, Head of Magister Study Program, FBS UNIMED
✨ Ms. Iram Shehzadi, President of the International Student Society (ISS), UniSZA

Your dedication, collaboration, and continuous support made this session meaningful and impactful.

We would also like to sincerely thank all participants from UniSZA, UNIMED, University of Central Punjab Lahore, and other institutions for attending and actively participating in this May Session of the Academic Talks Exchange Program. Your engagement and enthusiasm contributed greatly to the success of the webinar.

This session reflects our shared commitment to strengthening international academic collaboration, cultural understanding, and global networking among students and scholars. We look forward to continuing this meaningful initiative through future monthly webinars and exchange sessions. 🌟

🌍✨ Academic & Cultural Exchange Talk: UniSZA–UNIMED Collaboration ✨🌍

The first session of the “Academic and Cultural Exchange Talk: UniSZA–UNIMED Collaboration” was successfully held on 28th April 2026 via Zoom Meeting. The program was organized by the International Student Society (ISS), UniSZA and the International Center (IC), UniSZA in collaboration with the Postgraduate Department of English Applied Linguistics, Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED), Indonesia.

The event began with the beautiful recitation of the Holy Quran by Mr. Nuhu Yahya Bamali, Master’s student at UniSZA, followed by the welcoming and opening remarks delivered by Mr. Cornelius Anuar Abdullah McAfee, Director of the International Center, UniSZA, and Dr. Ariatna, Head of the English Department, Faculty of Languages and Arts, Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED).

The session featured two distinguished speakers:
🎤 Dr. Ahmad Taufik Hidayah Abdullah, Senior Lecturer and former Deputy Director of IC UniSZA
🎤 Mr. David Yong He Sai, International PhD student of English Applied Linguistics at Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED), Indonesia

Both speakers shared valuable academic insights, intercultural experiences, and inspiring perspectives that encouraged meaningful dialogue and international collaboration among participants.

Special appreciation goes to Ms. Qurat ul Ain, undergraduate student from the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, Pakistan, for hosting the session professionally and warmly.

We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Mr. Cornelius Anuar Abdullah McAfee for his continuous support, encouragement, and guidance throughout the organization of this program. His support played a vital role in making this collaborative initiative successful.

Heartfelt thanks to the organizing team:
✨ Dr. Fahri Haswani, Head of Doctoral Study Program, Department of English Applied Linguistics, UNIMED
✨ Dr. Winda Setiasari, Head of Magister Study Program, Department of English Applied Linguistics, UNIMED
✨ Ms. Iram Shehzadi, President, International Student Society (ISS), UniSZA

We also sincerely thank all local and international participants from UniSZA, UNIMED, and various Pakistani universities for their active participation, valuable contributions, and enthusiasm throughout the session. Your presence and engagement made this academic and cultural exchange meaningful and successful.

This successful session is not the end, but the beginning of a long journey of academic and cultural collaboration. We are excited to continue organizing online webinars and Academic & Cultural Exchange Talks on a monthly basis to strengthen international partnerships, intercultural understanding, and academic engagement.

Thank you to all participants, speakers, organizers, and supporters for making the first session memorable and impactful. 🌟

🌍 Academic Talks Exchange Program – April Session 🎓

The International Student Society (ISS) and International Center, UniSZA, in collaboration with Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED), Indonesia, proudly present the April Session of the Academic Talks Exchange Program!

📅 Date:28th April
⏰ Time:2:00 PM (Malaysian Time)
📍 Venue:Zoom Meeting

✨ Featured Speakers:
🎤 Dr. Ahmad Taufik Hidayah Abdullah.
Senior Lecturer, English Language Studies Department
Former Deputy Director, International Center, UniSZA, Malaysia

🎤 Mr. David H. S. Yeng
International PhD Student.
Department of English Applied Linguistics
Universitas Negeri Medan, Indonesia

🎓 E-certificates will be provided to participants.

🎯 Who can attend?
All international UniSZA students (postgraduate, undergraduate, and postdoctoral fellows), alumni, and international students from Indonesia, Pakistan, Nigeria, Yemen, Jordan, Bangladesh, and other countries are warmly invited to attend the April Session of our monthly webinars.

📝Please register at the link below:
https://forms.gle/LcBHTjMxFgB1eNxG9

Join us for an engaging and insightful academic exchange that brings together scholars across borders to share knowledge, ideas, and experiences.

🌐 Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a global learning community!

🌍 Exciting Collaboration Announcement! 🎓✨

The International Student Society (ISS), UniSZA, Terengganu, Malaysia is delighted to announce a meaningful academic collaboration with the Postgraduate Department of Applied English Linguistics, Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED), Indonesia.

This partnership marks the beginning of a series of online monthly webinars aimed at fostering academic exchange, enhancing linguistic knowledge, and building global connections among students and scholars.

We extend our sincere gratitude to the Director of the International Center, Mr. Cornelius Anuar Abdullah McAfee, for his continuous support in making this collaboration possible.

📅 Opening Ceremony & 1st Two Sessions: 28th April
🔗 Webinar link: To be shared soon

Stay tuned and join us on this exciting journey of learning and collaboration across borders!

🌙✨ Eid Mubarak from the International Centre & International Student Society (ISS)! ✨🌙

The International Centre (IC) and the International Student Society (ISS) warmly wish all our students, staff, and global community a joyful and blessed Eid al-Fitr.

This special occasion marks the end of a month of reflection, patience, and spiritual growth. May this Eid bring happiness to your hearts, peace to your homes, and success in all your endeavors.

As a diverse international community, we celebrate the values of unity, compassion, and togetherness that connect us across cultures and borders. Let us continue to support one another and spread kindness wherever we go.

🌙 Eid Mubarak to you and your loved ones! 🌙

🌙✨ Ramadan Mubarak from the International Student Society (ISS)! ✨🌙

The International Student Society (ISS) warmly wishes all our Muslim members and friends a blessed and peaceful Ramadan. May this sacred month bring you spiritual growth, renewed faith, and countless moments of reflection and gratitude.

Ramadan is a time of compassion, unity, and generosity. As an international community, we celebrate the beautiful diversity that brings us together and the shared values of kindness, patience, and understanding that strengthen our bonds.

May your fasts be easy, your prayers be accepted, and your hearts be filled with peace and joy. 🤍

Let us continue to support one another and spread positivity throughout this blessed month.

Ramadan Kareem to you and your loved ones! 🌙✨

Happy New year to all from International Student Society and International Centre

🎬 Movie Night Highlights | 21st December 🎬

The International Student Society (ISS), in collaboration with the International Centre (IC), successfully organized a Movie Night on 21st December at the IC Meeting Room. The International Student Society and international students are extremely grateful to the Director IC, Mr. Cornelius Anuar, and the Deputy Director IC, Ms. Alia, for their continuous support of ISS activities and for always welcoming international students with warmth and kindness.

The event featured three exciting episodes from Ms. Marvel (Season 1) and brought together almost 30 international postgraduate students, including post-doctoral fellows, from UniSZA and UMT.

The evening began with a warm introduction and briefing by the Director of the International Centre, Mr. Cornelius Anuar, and the new Deputy Director, Ms. Alia, who welcomed the students and highlighted the importance of such cross-cultural engagements. The movie screening started at 5:00 pm and continued until 9:00 pm, creating a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere for everyone.

Adding to the charm of the evening was the delightful food arrangement. Pakistani dishes prepared by Ms. Iram Shehzadi, along with Malaysian snacks arranged by the International Centre, truly enhanced the experience and celebrated cultural diversity through food..

We are sincerely grateful to all the participants for making the event a success, with special appreciation to our friends from UMT for joining us and enriching the gathering.

We are also thankful to President ISS, Ms. Iram Shehzadi for organizing the first ever Movie Night, thanks to Secretary ISS, Dr.Amina Usman and ISS cabinet member Mr. Lukman Ibrahim, for their support and hard work they showed before and throughout the event to make it successful ❣️💯😍

✨ It was an evening filled with entertainment, cultural connection, and shared moments that truly reflected the spirit of our international community.

On 16th December, the International Student Society (ISS) of UniSZA was officially invited to represent the university at the Pakistani booth during a cultural event held at Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) in Johor, Malaysia. All decorations, banners, and standees were carefully carried from UniSZA to UTHM to ensure a vibrant and authentic representation of Pakistani culture. The booth was attractively set up and received an encouraging response from visitors throughout the event.

One of the highlights of the event was the strong interaction with the Sindhi Pakistani community in Johor, which provided an excellent opportunity for cultural exchange and friendship building. The Pakistani booth featured two special activity corners that drew great attention. One corner was dedicated to mehndi/henna, where a Pakistani child was applying mehndi on the hands of female students, creating a lively and culturally rich experience. The second corner was for writing names in Urdu, which fascinated many visitors.

Ms. Iram Shehzadi personally wrote visitors’ names in Urdu, an activity that was greatly admired and loved by the audience. Alhamdulillah, the collective efforts and teamwork were rewarded when the Pakistani booth won the **Second Best Booth Award*. This achievement was a proud moment for the International Student Society of UniSZA and reflected the dedication, creativity, and cultural spirit displayed at the event.

🎓 Sharing Session: Future Proof Scholars – Postgraduate Excellence in the SDG Era 🌍

On December 8 at 2:30 PM, the Graduate School of Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) successfully hosted a Sharing Session titled “Future Proof Scholars: Postgraduate Excellence in the SDG Era” at the Al-Zahrawi Auditorium, HoSZA. The programme brought together representatives from various Responsibility Centres and the International Students’ Society, UniSAZA, fostering meaningful engagement on the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within the postgraduate ecosystem.

The session was moderated by Ms. Iram Shehzadi, PhD Scholar at FBK and President of the International Student Society (ISS). Her effective moderation enriched the session and created a dynamic, interactive learning experience.

We are pleased to note that almost 20 ISS members participated in the programme, demonstrating strong interest and commitment to global sustainability and academic development within UniSZA’s international student community.

The event began with welcoming remarks by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Is. Mutia Sobihah binti Abd Halim, Dean of the Graduate School, who highlighted UniSZA’s commitment to nurturing competent, future-ready scholars aligned with global sustainable development aspirations.

This was followed by an insightful presentation by Professor Dr. Rafis Abazov, Vice President of the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University, who shared international perspectives on empowering postgraduate students to advance the SDG agenda through impactful research, academic leadership, and global community engagement.

The session reflects UniSZA’s continuous efforts to strengthen postgraduate excellence and ensure that future scholars are equipped to navigate the opportunities and challenges of a sustainability-driven era.

Collaborative Cultural Programme
On 6th December, the International Centre (IC), the International Student Society (ISS) and Ping Anchorage proudly organized a special complimentary cultural experience for ISS students — the Trail of Philosophy @ Terrapuri Heritage Resort, Setiu.

The programme began with a warm welcome and an insightful briefing by Mr. Alex, CEO of Ping Anchorage, who introduced the students to the history, vision, and cultural significance of Terrapuri. Following his introduction, students enjoyed a detailed guided tour of the 200-year-old palaces and villas, gaining a deeper understanding of Terengganu’s classical Malay architecture and heritage.

This immersive experience offered a meaningful journey through the rich traditions, stories, and philosophies preserved within the Terrapuri Heritage Resort. Students had the opportunity to explore, learn, and connect with Terengganu’s cultural legacy in an unforgettable way.

A heartfelt thank you to all participants for their enthusiasm and appreciation throughout the programme. Together, we continue to foster cultural understanding, meaningful engagement, and shared experiences within our diverse international community. 🌍✨