Cultural Café bridges borders through food, arts and friendship at Curtin Malaysia

Miri, Malaysia – 19 January 2026 – Curtin University Malaysia (Curtin Malaysia) recently brought cultures to life through an interactive Cultural Café, welcoming eight visiting undergraduate students from Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), Indonesia, as part of an international business study tour.

Designed to foster meaningful intercultural exchange, the event provided a platform for students from both institutions to share and celebrate their diverse cultural identities through food, crafts, traditional attire and conversation.

The UNAIR students were visiting Curtin Malaysia on a business study tour hosted by Curtin Malaysia’s Faculty of Business. In conjunction with the programme, the Cultural Café was organised as a course-based learning activity for the Diploma of Media Studies, under the School of Pre-U and Continuing Education (SPACE).

During the event, Curtin Malaysia students set up interactive stations featuring traditional delicacies, cultural artefacts and costumes. The visiting students moved from station to station, sampling local flavours, participating in hands-on activities, and engaging in lively discussions that offered deeper insights into Sarawak’s rich multicultural heritage.

UNAIR student Fachrul Ahmad Farizhi described the Cultural Café as an engaging introduction to local culture. “As an outbound student from Indonesia, the event gave me a unique opportunity to compare cultural expressions through cuisine while appreciating the similarities that connect Southeast Asian communities,” he said.

Fellow student Laksamana Salman shared that the experience had sparked his interest in Curtin Malaysia and Miri. “Meeting new friends and learning about Sarawak’s beautiful and incredibly cool culture has made me want to explore Curtin Malaysia further. From what I have learned, it seems like an attractive option for continuing my studies,” he said.

Curtin Malaysia students also welcomed the opportunity to showcase their heritage. Vellalee Albania Linus said, “It was fulfilling to see the enjoyment and curiosity of everyone who visited our station,” while Muhammad Azeezur Izham Masli noted that food was a key highlight. “I learned about other cultures and had the chance to try traditional dishes I had never tasted before,” he said.

The course leader and organiser of Cultural Café, Fifi Liew Ee En, said that the event provided students with authentic intercultural learning experiences. “Intercultural communication goes beyond theory. Through these real-world interactions, students develop cultural competence and the ability to communicate effectively across cultural boundaries,” she said.

The Cultural Café reflects Curtin Malaysia’s commitment to globally connected, experiential learning that extends beyond the classroom. By embedding intercultural exchange into its curriculum, the university continues to prepare students to become culturally aware, adaptable graduates ready to thrive and lead in an increasingly interconnected world.

For more information on Curtin Malaysia, visit curtin.edu.my or look for Curtin Malaysia on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn, or TikTok.

Curtin Malaysia students in a group photo with visiting Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR) students from Indonesia.

Indonesian and Malaysian students dancing poco-poco together.

A Curtin Malaysia student sharing a traditional Dayak dish, Ayam Pansuh, with the visiting Indonesian students.

Visiting UNAIR students trying Chinese calligraphy.