MAKASSAR – Lecturers from the English Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP), Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar, have once again achieved a proud milestone. Uyunnasirah Hambali, S.Pd., M.Pd., secured a spot in the Top 3 Best Papers at the 1st International Conference on Research, Innovation, and Strategies for Excellence in English Language Studies (RISE-ELS 2026), held at Isabela State University in Echague, Isabela, Philippines, on September 23–24, 2026.
This recognition was earned through her research paper titled "From Local Culture to Global Literacy: Developing Culture-Based English Teaching Material for Young Learners" under the conference strand "Psycholinguistics, Second Language Acquisition (SLA), and Literacy Development Strategies."
Uyunnasirah’s study addresses a crucial issue in Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL): utilizing local culture as a contextual foundation for developing instructional materials. The research focuses on student and teacher needs as the basis for designing teaching resources that align with learners' characteristics and cultural backgrounds.
The findings indicate strong support from both students and teachers for the development of South Sulawesi culture-based English teaching materials. Key elements identified as essential in the preliminary draft include local folklore, traditional cuisine, visual illustrations, vocabulary support, level-appropriate texts, and inferential learning activities.
These insights served as the foundation for developing an English reading module for fifth-grade students that integrates the rich cultural heritage of the Bugis, Makassar, Toraja, and Mandar ethnic groups. Through this approach, local culture acts as a bridge to help young learners comprehend English materials while cultivating broader literacy skills.
Her work received high praise at the RISE-ELS 2026 forum, placing Uyunnasirah Hambali among the top three paper authors. This achievement acknowledges research contributions that connect instructional material development, young learner language pedagogy, local culture, and literacy enhancement.
RISE-ELS 2026 carried the theme "Elevating English Language Studies: Harnessing Innovation, Digital Transformation, and Research for Global Excellence." The international conference convened academics, researchers, and practitioners from various institutions to exchange research findings and innovations in English Language Studies.
Unismuh Makassar’s English Education Program Serves as Co-Host
In addition to Uyunnasirah’s achievement, the English Education Study Program at FKIP Universitas Muhammadiyah Makassar was entrusted to serve as a co-host for RISE-ELS 2026. This role forms part of the study program's strategic push to expand its academic network and strengthen international partnerships with global university partners.
At the conference, the study program also sent five other faculty presenters: Dr. Ummi Khaerati Syam, S.Pd., M.Pd.; Ismail Sangkala, S.Pd., M.Pd.; Ariana, S.Pd., M.Pd.; Firman, S.Pd., M.Pd.; and Sulkifli, S.Pd., M.Pd.
Thus, Unismuh Makassar's involvement in RISE-ELS 2026 was marked not only by its role as a co-host, but also through the active participation of its faculty members presenting research on an international platform.
Uyunnasirah Hambali’s recognition in the Top 3 Best Papers stands out as a major highlight of the institution's participation. Through her study "From Local Culture to Global Literacy," she demonstrated how the rich cultural heritage of South Sulawesi can be transformed into relevant English learning resources for young generations while advancing literacy goals in a global context.
This accomplishment further reinforces the contribution of Unismuh Makassar’s English Education faculty in producing academic works that celebrate local contexts while remaining relevant to international English language education discourse.