Four delegates from Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) conducted an official visit to Yunnan Minzu University (YMU) in China from 30 November to 4 December 2025. The visit aimed to strengthen academic and cultural cooperation between the two universities and to collect alumni tracer study data from UNY graduates residing at YMU.

The UNY delegation consisted of Prof. Dr. Guntur, M.Pd. and Dr. Hedi Ardiyanto Hermawan, S.Pd., M.Or. from the Faculty of Sport Science and Health, as well as Ella Wulandari, M.A., Ph.D. and Silmi Tara Azizah, M.Pd. from the Faculty of Languages, Arts, and Culture. At YMU they were welcomed by the Dean and Vice Dean — leaders of the Southeast Asian Study Center — Professor Zhao Junhai and Ms. Jin Yi, and engaged in discussions to enhance cooperation in Indonesian Language for Foreign Speakers (BIPA), student and staff exchanges, joint research, and publication collaborations.

Led by the Director of Academic, Student Affairs, and Alumni Directorate at UNY, Prof. Dr. Guntur, M.Pd., the delegation also met with UNY alumni at YMU and shared a tracer study link to collect alumni data. The meeting was attended by YMU students who plan to transfer credits to UNY in 2026 as part of the BIPA partnership. This alumni gathering marked an initial step toward establishing a UNY alumni community in China, which will support promotion of Indonesian education and cultural exchange internationally.

Beyond formal discussions, the UNY delegation organized a Workshop on Traditional Games (“Dolanan Tradisional”) as a cultural-based recreational sport led by Dr. Hedi Ardiyanto Hermawan, S.Pd., M.Or., Dean of the Faculty of Sport Science and Health. At this workshop, participants were introduced to and were able to play various traditional Indonesian games — such as engklek and gobak sodor — which carry educational and cultural values rooted in Indonesian heritage. The aim was to help participants understand the philosophy and social meaning of these games and explore how they can be integrated into cross-cultural learning.

The traditional game activities were intended not only as a way to strengthen friendships but also to enrich the experience of YMU students in learning about Indonesian culture, introducing unique Indonesian traditions to an international audience.

In addition to the workshop, the visit included a campus tour where the UNY delegation observed YMU’s facilities such as dormitories, cafeterias, classrooms, faculty offices, and the campus surroundings. Intensive discussions were also held to formulate priority cooperative efforts between UNY and YMU to be implemented in 2026.