Heady cultural mix

Universiti Kuala Lumpur students learn about traditional, modern and international cultures at a carnival, writes SHARMILA VELLA

MUSIC, dance, poetry, drama and handicraft were on the programme at the latest Malaysian Institute of Information Technology Open Day at Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) City Campus.

Organised by General Studies Section students, it was a three-day carnival extravaganza that focused on traditional, modern and international cultures.

Students were required to set up a booth and display their culture depending on ethnicity, state or country.

In addition to the festival, there was an exhibition of final-year student projects comprising presentations and displays.

There was also a language competition, which was part of the coursework requirement for English and Mandarin subjects.

The fest boasted many different booths which showcased the heritage, handiwork and food of Malacca, Sarawak, Kelantan and Iran.

Students had to come up with striking visuals to attract people to their stands.

“It’s an enriching experience for me as I come from Iran,” says 20-year-old Maral Bakhsheshi, who is doing her degree in Mechanical Aircraft Technology. “I learned about the different cultures in Malaysia and had the chance to share mine with the locals.”

Sudanese Hassan Samir Hassan, 20, feels that Malaysia has a good mix of various cultures.

“It’s interesting to live in a multicultural society where you learn to respect different people,” says Hassan.

“It’s important to know about other cultures and learn interesting facts that enrich your outlook on life,” says Abdullah Alsamawi, 22, who is doing Aircraft Engineering at UniKL.

As the event is part of the undergraduate students’ coursework, lecturers were present to assess their efforts.

The students also gave performances such as dikir barat, Indian and Chinese classical dances

International students performed dances from their countries of origin; some Sudanese students donned their national costumes and performed a traditional dance, and sang a famous Sudanese song while Yemeni undergraduates put on a song-and-dance routine.

There were also poetry recitals and theatrical performances by students.