Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) welcomed 59 new international students through the International Student Orientation for the 2026–2027 Academic Year, held on Friday, 11 September 2026, at the LPPM Hall. Organized by the International Office, the program introduced students to academic regulations, campus services, immigration procedures, and daily life in Makassar.
The participants came from six countries: Timor-Leste, China, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, and Malawi. They represented undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs across the university. Director of Internationalization and the International Office Jamaluddin Fitrah Alam, S.Pi., M.Si., Ph.D., explained that the orientation is an annual program designed to help newly arrived international students adapt to both academic and nonacademic life at UNHAS. “This program is held every academic year for international students who have recently arrived in Makassar. We want them to understand life here, both academically and beyond the classroom,” Jamaluddin said.
During the orientation, students received information on International Office services, academic regulations, scholarships, and academic integrity. They were also introduced to student affairs regulations, student organizations, accommodation policies for university housing, and administrative procedures relevant to international students. Representatives from the Makassar Immigration Office also provided information on residence permit regulations and ITAS extension procedures. In addition, students received guidance on safety and legal matters to help them understand their responsibilities while living and studying in Indonesia.
UNHAS Rector Prof. Dr. Ir. Jamaluddin Jompa, M.Sc., emphasized that international students play an important role in the university’s internationalization efforts. Their presence, he said, also provides UNHAS students with opportunities to build friendships, learn about different cultures and languages, and develop a stronger international academic environment. “The opportunity for our students to have friends from different countries and learn from their languages and cultures is invaluable,” Prof. Jamaluddin said. He added that interaction with international students can also contribute to developing a stronger scientific culture and academic excellence on campus.
The Rector also noted the continued growth of UNHAS’s international student community. While the university had previously targeted around 400 to 500 international students, the number has now reached approximately 700. UNHAS hopes to increase this figure to more than 1,000 international students in the coming year. Through the International Student Orientation, UNHAS aims to ensure that new international students are well prepared to become part of an inclusive and globally connected academic community. The program also reflects the university’s broader efforts to strengthen international engagement and provide a supportive learning environment for students from around the world.