Yogyakarta, October 9th, 2025 – Students from the Arabic Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), are actively participating in the Al-Istiqama International Arabic Public Speaking Competition 2025, an international Arabic speech contest organized by the Omani Research and Studies Centre in collaboration with Istiqama Academy and the Arabic Debate Club. This prestigious event, held under the theme of nurturing eloquence, leadership, and global understanding, gathers high school and university students from around the world to showcase their Arabic communication skills.

The competition features two stages: the online qualifying round, where participants submit a 3–5 minute speech video by October 10, 2025, and the semi-final and final rounds, which will take place on November 7, 2025, at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). Contestants will address one of several themes, such as “Education and Innovation as Our Path to Leadership” and “The Role of Youth in Building a Peaceful Future.” Winners will receive total prizes amounting to RM 20,000 (approximately USD 4,700).

The Arabic Study Program at UGM provides full support for its students joining this competition. The department organizes intensive coaching sessions, helps students record and edit their competition videos, and provides academic and technical assistance to ensure the best possible preparation. This initiative reflects the program’s dedication to encouraging students to hone their public speaking, linguistic, and intercultural communication skills on the international stage.