30 Countries Liven Up UMY's ICCF, Campus Diplomacy Event Through Culture and Cuisine

Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) is once again organising the 11th International Cultural and Culinary Festival (ICCF) 2026. UMY describes the event, which is attended by dozens of countries, as a means to strengthen relationships and prove that UMY is open to all nations.

UMY’s Vice Rector for Quality, Reputation, and Partnerships, Prof. Slamet Riyadi, stated that the number of participants in this year’s ICCF has increased compared to the previous year. According to him, this increase is evidence that the ICCF holds a special place for foreign students.

“We invited even more participants this year; 30 countries are involved. This shows that the event indeed receives high attention from international students in Indonesia,” said Slamet to reporters at UMY, Kasihan, Bantul, on Wednesday (29/4/2026).

Slamet noted that ICCF participants are not only from UMY students but also from students at various campuses in Yogyakarta. Even this year’s ICCF involves high school students as companions for participants at each booth stand.

“Because culture and cuisine are an approach that has proven to strengthen relationships. We certainly hope that from the event organised here, it becomes a message to the world that we need to understand each other, collaborate, and advance development on both national and global scales,” he said.

Slamet acknowledged that the ICCF has an extraordinary impact on UMY. This is because UMY wants to show itself as a campus open to foreign nationals who wish to study at UMY.

“UMY is very aware of international matters; we invite prospective students as well as students, including professors and lecturers, to UMY for mutual collaboration. Thus, this event becomes a sign that we are very welcoming to international exchange,” he stated.

This is evidenced by the large number of foreign students registering at UMY each year.

“And with more students coming to register at UMY, around 10,000 foreign student applicants each year. I think this is one of the impacts we have achieved,” he said.

UMY’s Director of Global Partnerships and Employability, Prof. Rizal Yahya, stated that the large number of country representatives participating in the ICCF can enhance a sense of togetherness among nations. Considering that many countries in conflict are also participating in the ICCF.

“For example, from the United States, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, which recently had conflicts, but here we bring them together. So that this togetherness spreads to the national level,” he said.

“That is one of our missions, so that they understand each other, and our hope is that they become agents for peace,” Rizal added.