Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Australian Catholic University (ACU) have agreed to explore potential cooperation in research collaboration and student exchange programs.
This emerged during a meeting between the UGM Vice-Rector for Education and Teaching, Professor Wening Udasmoro, and the ACU Vice-Rector for Research and Enterprise, Professor Abid Khan, at the UGM Central Office meeting room on Monday (Jun. 3).
Professor Udasmoro stated that in this meeting, the two universities agreed to open opportunities for cooperation in education and teaching development, joint publications, and student and faculty exchanges.
“We agreed to open potential collaboration in research, publications, and exchange programs,” said Professor Udasmoro.
According to Professor Udasmoro, the Indonesian Consortium for Religious Studies (ICRS) doctoral program at the UGM Graduate School could be encouraged to open cooperation in research and joint publications.
This international interfaith study program, formed by a consortium of three campuses—UGM, Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University (UIN), and Duta Wacana Christian University—attracts ACU to conduct religious studies research.
“I think ICRS will be an interesting collaboration for ACU,” Professor Udasmoro said.
For the student exchange program, Professor Udasmoro mentioned that they are opening cooperation for summer courses and student exchange programs in UGM’s International Undergraduate Program (IUP), especially for IUP at the Faculty of Law (FH UGM), Faculty of Psychology (Psychology UGM), and the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UGM).
Conversely, she invited ACU to send students for community service activities to join UGM’s KKN-PPM program.
“We also offer community-based services lasting 2-3 weeks,” she explained.
Professor Abid Khan stated that ACU has several faculties, including the Faculty of Education and Arts, the Faculty of Health Sciences, the Faculty of Law and Business, and the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy.
According to Professor Khan, he wants to offer research collaboration, particularly for doctoral students.
“We want to collaborate in research, community service involvement, and student exchange programs, especially in the Faculty of Psychology and Law, as well as the Graduate School,” he said.
Michelle Lopez, Director of the ACU Graduate School of Research, said the school offers special scholarships to doctoral (PhD) students because it actively seeks collaboration and partnerships.
“For prospective PhD students, we encourage collaborative or joint supervision programs,” she said.
Author: Gusti Grehenson