Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT), Timor Leste, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in higher education on Friday (May 31) at the UGM Central Office.
Both parties agreed to expand the scope of cooperation, including opening opportunities for student exchange programs.
The MoU was signed by the Rector of DIT Timor Leste, Dr. Salustiano dos Reis Piedade, and Professor Puji Astuti, UGM’s Director of Partnerships and Global Relations.
Additionally, an MoU was signed between the UGM Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (Fisipol UGM), represented by the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni, Dr. Fina Itriyati, and the Executive Director of the Graduate School, Research and ICT at DIT, Edio da Costa.
Dr. Salustiano dos Reis Piedade expressed that the cooperation is expected to benefit both institutions, especially as Timor Leste is about to be officially recognized as an ASEAN member.
Although Timor Leste is geographically part of Southeast Asia, its ASEAN membership has yet to be recognized.
“Timor Leste applied to ASEAN in 2011. Unfortunately, some Southeast Asian countries have not agreed to include Timor Leste in ASEAN due to its unstable economic and political conditions,” said Dr. Piedade.
Dr. Piedade emphasized that his country will join ASEAN next year. With its recognition as an ASEAN member, he hopes to foster broader cooperation, particularly in promoting higher-quality education, teaching, research, and community service at DIT.
“This cooperation is part of our commitment to strengthen collaboration, share knowledge, and enhance areas such as teaching strategies, research, training, publication, and community service,” Dr. Piedade said.
Professor Astuti stated that UGM would support and assist DIT in joining the ASEAN University Network (AUN) after Timor Leste is officially recognized as an ASEAN member.
“Currently, UGM, as part of AUN, has exchange programs with other AUN member universities,” she said.
According to Professor Astuti, this cooperation could open opportunities for the development of postgraduate education, including master’s and doctoral programs.
This cooperation involves many parties, ranging from international universities to private institutions. One continuous effort is providing scholarships and exchange programs.
“We also frequently collaborate with international partners, hoping to create synergies that enable progress for both parties,” added Professor Astuti.
The UGM Director acknowledged that strengthening cooperative relationships with domestic and international partners is one of UGM’s efforts to enhance the quality of education and teaching.
This is because UGM students can freely study various fields of knowledge and gain international insights.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Photographer: Firsto