Muhammadiyah University of Purworejo (UMPWR) – English Language Education Lecturer Edi Sunjayanto Masykuri, S.S., M.Pd., who is a member of the International Student Association in Novosibirsk, Russia, participated in the 13th Congress of the Russian Association of Foreign Students (AIS) in Ufa, Republic of Bashkortostan, Russian Federation, from 9 to 12 October 2025.
As NSPU delegates, Edi Sunjayanto Masykuri, a PhD student and lecturer at UMPWR, represented Indonesia, along with Shari Navakumar Shari Anjali Thamar, an undergraduate student from Germany. They travelled by Trans-Siberian train, which took 34 hours.
“We were thrilled to experience an extraordinary adventure over seven days. During the journey, we were accompanied by six others representing their respective countries: Avishka from Sri Lanka, Saisong Pilovang from Laos, Josue from Mali, and Abdurahmanova from Tajikistan, all in the same carriage,” he recounted.
Edi Sunjayanto was very impressed with the city of Ufa. "Ufa is a beautiful, well-organised city located in the Republic of Bashkortostan. A state that was once part of the Ottoman Empire. It is a predominantly Muslim city located in the European part of the country, on the border of the Ural Mountains. As our host, we were welcomed by the Ufa State University of Science and Technology (UUST), which accommodated us for three days in the most luxurious student dormitory we have ever stayed in. We held discussions on culture, history, science and technology. UUST welcomed us with the utmost hospitality," he explained.
The opening ceremony featured speeches from representatives of higher education institutions and government agencies; an open dialogue between international students and representatives of the Russian Federation's executive authorities, where participants could discuss current issues in education and migration; lectures on important topics of our time, including the values of civilisation and digital hygiene; and a tour of the city of Ufa. There were many experiences and insights gained. One of them was interfaith harmony, the development of Islam, and Islamic higher education institutions there.
“Over 300 participants attended from among all international students studying in Russia. We hope to establish communication between universities and even between countries in the future,” expressed Edi Sunjayanto.
