Director of UIN SSC International Office Revives Kamandalaan, the Ancestors’ Learning Tradition, through Heritage-Based, Play-Oriented Education to Foster Critical Thinking and Cultural Awareness among Students
Cirebon, Sepetember, 18th 2025 — UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon’s International Office is taking a bold step by reintroducing an ancestral learning tradition known as Kamandalaan into its academic environment. Lala Bumela, Ph.D., Director of the International Office, who has consistently advanced international-scale research and visionary educational practices, announced the launch of a new Creative Writing curriculum for third-semester students of the English Language Teaching Department, Faculty of Tarbiyah and Teacher Training. Speaking about the initiative, Lala Bumela, Ph.D. said, “We want our students to experience Heritage-Based, Play-Oriented Education to Foster Critical Thinking and Cultural Awareness among Students. This new curriculum is our commitment to link learning with our own cultural roots while preparing students to engage globally.” In this initial meeting, the Persons in Charge of the Creative Writing course—Septiani Lu’luatul Fajriyah, Wulan Putri Islami, Najwa Hana Habibah, and Nadia Rahmah Amalia—came together enthusiastically to explore the new method introduced by their lecturer.
The program is planned to be held at the foot of a mountain, transforming natural spaces into living classrooms where students can immerse themselves in experiential learning. Kamandalaan, an ancient term used by Indonesian ancestors, describes a form of deep and holistic learning carried out in open environments, blending spiritual, social, and intellectual values. This concept has inspired the International Office to revive a learning spirit that focuses not only on cognitive aspects but also on character formation and cultural sensitivity. Through this model, students are expected to develop reflective, creative writing skills deeply rooted in local wisdom yet ready for global expression. This approach also resonates with the university’s vision to integrate science, religion, and culture across its academic programs.
Explaining the core of the program, Lala Bumela, Ph.D. said, “The ancestors used the term Kamandalaan to describe a journey of learning that goes beyond hearing and moves into experiencing—instilling values and skills naturally through direct engagement with the environment. By bringing students into this space, we invite them to see knowledge as something living and evolving.” He added that the program will involve more than 90 participants, including 81 Creative Writing students and members of the International Office’s Global Engagement Team. The activities will combine reflection, educational games, and intercultural dialogues so that students can experience a truly holistic and transformative learning environment.
The new curriculum is carefully designed to bridge academic study with real-life experiences. Rather than learning only from theory, students will be encouraged to draw inspiration from traditions, legends, and local wisdom encountered during the outdoor sessions. This experiential approach is expected to enrich their perspectives, deepen their sense of cultural belonging, and empower them to write creatively with greater authenticity. By nurturing both creative and critical thinking, the program also prepares students to contribute meaningfully to international academic forums and cross-cultural exchanges. This initiative represents a strategic move by the International Office to support the university’s vision of becoming a world-class institution rooted in Indonesian heritage.
The initiative has received enthusiastic support from faculty coordinators and students alike. The coordinators of the Creative Writing classes highlighted that this program introduces a new dimension to teaching methods, aligning with the preferences of today’s learners who thrive on active, collaborative, and creative learning environments. The involvement of the International Office team as facilitators ensures that each stage of the program is well-structured, documented, and measurable. The program also serves as a model for how higher education institutions can blend traditional values with modern pedagogies to produce globally aware graduates.
Concluding his remarks, Lala Bumela, Ph.D. stated, “Listening in silence is one of the core values of Kamandalaan. Students learn to listen deeply before speaking or writing, because it is from there that genuine understanding emerges. By adopting Heritage-Based, Play-Oriented Education to Foster Critical Thinking and Cultural Awareness among Students, we are not just creating a one-time activity but laying the foundation for a sustainable learning model at UIN SSC.” He expressed his hope that this program will not only revive the legacy of the ancestors but also shape a new generation of students who are critical, creative, and firmly rooted in their own cultural heritage while engaging confidently with the world.
Author: Muhammad Azkiya Bahtsulkhoir