Unismuh Makassar Faculty of Islamic Studies – USIM Malaysia Department of Main Language Studies Hold International Guest Lecture on Language and Literature

**Makassar** – The Faculty of Islamic Studies at Muhammadiyah University of Makassar has once again demonstrated its commitment to strengthening international academic networks through the organization of an International Guest Lecture Session in collaboration with the Faculty of Language Studies, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). The event was held online via Zoom Meeting on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, from 09:00 to 11:59 WITA.

Featuring the theme “Language and Literature”, the event provided a platform for the exchange of ideas and knowledge across countries, focusing on the development of language and literature in the digital age and the era of artificial intelligence. The event was attended by lecturers and students from various academic backgrounds with great enthusiasm.

The event was officially opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies at Unismuh Makassar, Dr. Amirah Mawardi, S.Ag., M.Si. In her opening remarks, she expressed her appreciation and gratitude for the successful organization of this international guest lecture. According to her, the event was a tangible manifestation of the ongoing strengthening of international academic collaboration.

“The collaboration between the Faculty of Islamic Studies at Unismuh Makassar and the Faculty of Language Studies at USIM has been ongoing since 2023. Through events like this, we hope that this collaboration can continue and develop in various forms of academic activities that can enhance the capacity of lecturers and students,” said Dr. Amirah.

She also expressed gratitude to the speakers from USIM Malaysia for their time in sharing their knowledge and experience, and to the International Cooperation and Affairs Office (LKUI) of Unismuh Makassar for their active role in facilitating the smooth implementation of the event.

The International Guest Lecture Session featured three speakers with different expertise and research focuses, but who complemented each other in the field of language and education.

The first speaker, Nur Fadilah Amin, S.Pd.I., M.Pd.I.,, discussed the topic “Integrating Digital Media and Technology-Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) in Arabic Language Education: From Classical Content to Contemporary Learners”. The presentation highlighted the importance of integrating digital media into Arabic language learning to remain relevant to the characteristics of contemporary learners.

Subsequently, Prof. Madya Dr. Yuslina Binti Muhammad presented the topic “Designing Digital Language Teaching to Improve Educational Achievement in the Era of Artificial Intelligence (AI)”. In her presentation, she emphasized the need for adaptive language learning designs that adapt to technological and artificial intelligence developments.

Meanwhile, Prof. Madya Hazlina Abdullah presented the theme “The Linguist's Mandate: Reframing Foreign Language Education for SDG #4 and Global Leadership”. The presentation invited participants to view foreign language education as a contribution to academic achievement towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) point #4, particularly in creating global leadership with character.

The discussion in the event was guided by Agil Husain Abdullah, S.Sos., M.Pd., as the moderator, who successfully created an interactive dialogue between the speakers and participants.

Through this event, the Faculty of Islamic Studies at Unismuh Makassar hopes to continue expanding the global awareness of the academic community, strengthening international networks, and promoting the development of language and literature knowledge that is responsive to the challenges of the times.