Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (UNY) continues to expand its international presence as part of its efforts to become a World Class University (WCU) while supporting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through various academic and cultural collaborations. In addition to welcoming academics from abroad, UNY actively participates in activities at partner universities around the world.

One tangible manifestation of this commitment was the organization of a Shadow Puppet (Wayang Kulit) Workshop by the Fine Arts Education Department of the Faculty of Languages, Arts, and Culture (FBSB) at UNY at two leading universities in Vietnam: VNU University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) and Hanoi University (HANU). Both institutions are strategic partners of UNY in the development of Indonesian language and cultural studies. USSH offers a Southeast Asian Studies program that includes Indonesian language and culture courses, while HANU provides Indonesian language courses for its students.

The activity was part of a Community Service Program led by Prof. Dr. Drs. Iswahyudi, together with a team from the Fine Arts Education Department consisting of Dedy Sartono and Dr. Aida Roihana Zuhro. The first workshop was held at USSH on May 6, followed by a second workshop at HANU on May 7. The events attracted enthusiastic participation from students of various disciplines, including English, French, Japanese, and Korean language programs, all of whom showed a strong interest in Indonesian culture.

During the workshops, participants were introduced to wayang kulit as one of Indonesia’s cultural treasures, rich in philosophical, aesthetic, and educational values. In addition to learning about its history and symbolic meanings, participants had the opportunity to engage in hands-on practice in creating shadow puppets, from character design and cutting techniques to coloring.

The facilitators explained that the learning-by-doing approach was chosen because it provides a more contextual and enjoyable learning experience. Through direct involvement in the creative process, participants not only learned about the art form itself but also gained a deeper understanding of Indonesian cultural values.

Positive responses came from both partner universities. Representatives from USSH expressed their delight that students could learn Indonesian language and culture directly from native speakers. Meanwhile, HANU hoped that similar collaborations would continue and become an annual program to further strengthen academic and cultural relations between Indonesia and Vietnam.

Participants also shared highly positive feedback after the workshops. One participant from HANU, Thuy Duon, enthusiastically remarked: “We love your workshop so much!”

Through this initiative, UNY hopes that wayang kulit will become increasingly recognized not only as a world-renowned Indonesian cultural heritage but also as an effective medium of cultural diplomacy that strengthens friendship between Indonesia and Vietnam. Beyond fostering cross-cultural understanding, the activity reinforces UNY’s role as an educational institution actively promoting Indonesian culture on the international stage. The program also supports SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) through the preservation and promotion of cultural heritage.