Have you ever wondered how cultural knowledge travels across borders in our digital age? Sometimes it happens through innovative partnerships that bring together universities, embassies, and global communities—exactly what unfolded at City University Malaysia this past May.
City University Malaysia Partners with Wikipedia and Ukraine for Cultural Knowledge Exchange
On 14 May 2025, over 50 students, faculty, and international guests gathered at City University Malaysia’s Cyberjaya campus for an extraordinary “Wikipedia Article-Editing” workshop. Meanwhile, this wasn’t just any ordinary editing session—it represented a groundbreaking collaboration between City U, Wikimedia Community User Group (CUG) Malaysia, and the Embassy of Ukraine in Malaysia.
As part of Ukraine’s Cultural Diplomacy Month 2025, the programme aimed to expand Wikipedia’s coverage of Ukrainian history, arts, and culture for global audiences. Students from the Faculty of Creative Industries participated enthusiastically, particularly those pursuing Bachelor of Mass Communication, Bachelor of Communication (Journalism), and Master in Creative Industries & Communication programmes.
Diplomatic Foundation Sets the Stage
The opening ceremony featured distinguished guests who emphasized the cultural bridge-building aspect of this initiative. Mr Denys Mykhailiuk, Chargé d’Affaires A.I. of the Embassy of Ukraine, and Mrs. Maryna Kyrylchuk, Third Secretary for Trade and Economic Affairs, delivered compelling speeches about enriching cultural ties between Malaysia and Ukraine.
For example, Mrs. Kyrylchuk highlighted how digital platforms like Wikipedia serve as modern vessels for cultural diplomacy, carrying stories and knowledge across geographical boundaries that traditional methods might not reach as effectively.
Wikipedia’s Global Mission Takes Center Stage
Mr Dody Ismoyo, Founder and President of Wikimedia CUG Malaysia, provided participants with a comprehensive overview of Wikipedia’s global mission. As a result, students gained crucial insight into the platform’s role as one of the world’s most accessed knowledge repositories.
The agenda was clear and ambitious: participants would learn to edit Wikipedia articles in multiple languages including Bahasa Melayu, French, and others, thereby expanding Ukraine-related content accessibility worldwide.
Hands-On Learning Transforms Digital Citizens
Under expert guidance from Mr Farouk Rahman, Wikipedia Malaysia’s project coordinator, students received intensive training on Wikipedia’s editing interface. The curriculum covered visual and source editors, editing guidelines, and basic markdown rules—essential skills for modern digital content creation.
One particularly insightful moment came from City U student Mariam, who reflected: “I understand now why Wikipedia is actually really important. These days, we’re used to asking AI tools like ChatGPT for information, but what we often forget is that AI gets its knowledge from existing sources and Wikipedia is one of the main ones. So if the content on Wikipedia isn’t well-written or accessible it affects everything else that relies on it.”
From Theory to Practice: Cultural Stories Take Flight
Putting theory into practice, each student selected Ukraine-related articles to translate into their native languages. Some discovered compelling stories of historical figures, while others focused on iconic landmarks and cultural sites.
“I wrote about a Ukrainian military medic who was once a doctor and fell in the 2023 war while treating injured Ukrainian soldiers. Honoring his story in French felt truly meaningful.”
—Yanis, City U student from France
This personal connection to the content exemplified how the Wikipedia editathon transcended mere technical training, becoming a meaningful cultural exchange.
Impressive Results Showcase Collaborative Success
As the editathon concluded, the results were remarkable: 26 articles were successfully translated into 6 languages including Malay, Arabic, Mandarin, French, Bengali, and Urdu. Consequently, Ukrainian cultural content became accessible to millions of additional readers worldwide.
Dr. Ts. Saw Eu Gene, Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries, expressed enthusiasm about the students’ engagement and commitment to future collaborations with Wikimedia CUG Malaysia. “Wikipedia workshops transform students from passive consumers into active knowledge creators, sharpening their research, critical thinking, and digital literacy,” he noted. “By writing for a global audience, they learn to evaluate sources rigorously, communicate with neutrality, and engage collaboratively—skills essential for today’s media professionals.”
Building Bridges for Future Collaboration
Wikimedia representative Dody Ismoyo praised the workshop as a “great success,” highlighting the university’s excellent infrastructure and support. He expressed surprise at the remarkable linguistic diversity among participants, with almost 10 different languages represented.
Looking ahead, Ismoyo shared ambitious plans: “We are eager to expand our collaboration with City University Malaysia in the future to give students opportunity to learn more about tools available in Wikipedia for both visual and graphic knowledge content creation.”
This partnership demonstrates how digital diplomacy initiatives can create lasting educational value while fostering international understanding through collaborative knowledge sharing.
A Legacy of Cross-Cultural Knowledge Creation
By weaving together City University Malaysia’s academic energy, Wikipedia Malaysia’s community spirit, and the Embassy of Ukraine’s cultural vision, this workshop achieved something remarkable. It became far more than just building a cross-cultural information library—it celebrated shared histories, fostered new friendships, and demonstrated the power of collaboration to bring Ukraine’s rich heritage to life for readers across Southeast Asia and beyond.
This innovative approach to cultural diplomacy through digital knowledge creation offers a compelling model for other institutions seeking to bridge cultures through collaborative learning. As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, initiatives like this Wikipedia editathon prove that meaningful cross-cultural exchange can happen anywhere—including a university campus in Cyberjaya.
