Colours of unity: A lively cultural dance by students from Central Asia.
AFTER a three-year hiatus brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) International Cultural Night (ICN) marked its glorious return with a beautiful mosaic of cultures, people and performances.
More than 3,000 students, staff members, guests, as well as consulate and government officials gathered on Dec 10 to celebrate diversity in the gala aptly themed “Garden of Kingdoms”.
Distinguished guests were from the embassies of Maldives, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, Yemen, Egypt, Zambia and Ghana, who joined the gala together with representatives from the Higher Education Department, the National Department for Culture and Arts, the Institute of Language and Literature (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka), and Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS).
Rated number one in Asia and Malaysia for its multicultural learning experience in the i-Graduate Student Barometer, APU is host to an international community of more than 13,000 students from over 130 countries, where students form a truly diverse community for a truly global experience, a press release from the varsity read.
The event saw 27 performances presented by students representing 24 different nationalities. A total of 29 booths were set up during the pre-event, most of which were operated by student clubs and societies promoting their respective cultural elements.
Merchandise like T-shirts, kukurizarus, cheering sticks and badges also received overwhelming response and support from all present.
ICN event manager Sunil Palan T. Sivapalan, 18, who is pursuing a diploma in information and communications technology with a specialism in data informatics at APU, said the massive turnout and vibrant atmosphere were everything the team could have imagined and hoped for.
“Everyone enjoyed the booth activities that we had set up and embraced the performances comprising the various ethnicities.
“The crowd’s loud cheers during the grand finale were a fitting climax to the event, which saw performers from all over the world taking to the stage to represent their respective cultures,” enthused Sunil.
The planning of the event started more than three months ago, with the APU Student Representative Council (SRC) forming the core organising team.
They received the support of more than 100 crew members, who were organised into teams looking after every aspect, including performances, decorations, marketing, sponsorships, audio-visual, technical equipment, electrical and maintenance, and stage logistics.
“It was a successful show of unity. Seeing everything fall perfectly into place after all the hard work we had put in was truly rewarding,” said Sunil.
APU chief executive officer Datuk Parmjit Singh said the ICN is the best venue for the varsity’s international population to showcase the beauty and uniqueness of their respective cultures.
“Let’s embrace the beauty of multiculturalism and the diversity that provides a conducive ecosystem for the sharing of one’s ideas and perspectives as this will ultimately lead to the shaping of our students’ mindsets so that they can become part of the global workforce,” he said.
