The Student Mobility Program from the Faculty of Psychology at Mercu Buana University Yogyakarta (UMBY) to Malaysia from June 7-11, 2026, left a profound humanitarian impact. Beyond simply pursuing academic programs at partner campuses, the delegates also engaged directly with children from Indonesian migrant worker (PMI) families at the At Tanzil Guidance Center in Kuala Lumpur.

Nanda Yunika Wulandari, M.Psi., Psychologist, Coordinator of the UMBY Faculty of Psychology Student Mobility Program, explained that the five-day series of activities was designed comprehensively.

"The delegation participated in academic activities ranging from a visit to the Faculty of Human Development at Sultan Idris University of Education (UPSI), activities with children at the National Child Development Research Center (NCDRC), and academic sessions at INTI International University. However, the activities at the At Tanzil Guidance Center on the fourth day were among the most memorable moments," Nanda said.

Social realities were immediately apparent when the students visited the At Tanzil Guidance Center. Located on the second floor of a building relatively hidden from public view, this studio serves as an educational oasis for around 40 children of Indonesian migrant workers.

Every day, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time, these children are entrusted to study. Most of their parents work full-time as factory workers, restaurant dishwashers, and palm oil plantation workers. The studio plays a crucial role as a learning center and a substitute for formal schooling.

Unfortunately, these children's access to education is hampered by regulatory barriers.

"The children at the studio have a limited learning period, only accessible until the age of 16, or the equivalent of junior high school. After that age, they must return to Indonesia because there are no formal educational facilities in Malaysia for children in this immigration situation," explained Nanda Yunika with concern.

At the At Tanzil Guidance Center, students conduct educational and training activities aimed at all attending students. These activities are implementation assignments for the Basic Intervention II: Group and Community practicum course.

"All students participating in the Student Mobility program not only visited several partner campuses but also implemented lecture activities in the form of psychoeducation, which would later become assignments that would be translated into related courses," explained Nanda.

At the beginning of the activity, the students introduced themselves and then divided into several activities, one of which was storytelling.

"After reading the story, we invited the students to play a guessing game about the humanitarian values ​​contained in the story. We also provided motivational activities, games, and instilled nationalism in an age-appropriate way, namely through play," explained Jhon Carlos Ramot Banjarnahor, the person in charge of the program.

The complexity of this issue was further explored when the UMBY delegation visited the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Kuala Lumpur on the final day of the program. The delegation engaged in direct dialogue with the Education and Cultural Attaché (Atdikbud) at the Indonesian Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Ir. R. Ahmad Romadhani Surya Putra, S.Pt., M.Sc., Ph.D., IPM., ASEAN Eng.

In the discussion, Ahmad Romadhani explained the context of the existence of non-formal tutoring centers independently managed by community groups. According to him, Malaysian authorities are generally accommodating of these types of centers, provided they do not create crowds or excessive attention in the surrounding area. This is an unspoken compromise to ensure the continued access to education for the children of migrant workers amidst the limitations of their immigration status.

This valuable experience opened the eyes of UMBY students to the complex issues of educating the children of migrant workers, which are closely related to legal status, immigration policies, and diplomacy between the two countries.

One of the program participants, Wahyuni ​​Widyaningsih, a student mobility participant from the employee class, admitted that the program had successfully sharpened her social awareness.

"From visiting the Indonesian Embassy to teaching children at At Tanzil, I learned that being a student isn't just about pursuing academic grades. It's more than that, it demands social sensitivity and a sense of responsibility as representatives of the nation to care for others," Widya said.