Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Professor Ova Emilia, welcomed six Indonesian ambassadors who are also UGM alumni at the Rector’s Guest Room on Friday, May 2, 2025. The visit also included discussions on potential collaborations and forms of support that could be provided.
The six ambassadors were Hersindaru Arwityo Ibnu Wiwoho Wahyutomo (Indonesian Ambassador to Finland and concurrently to Estonia), Arief Hidayat (Indonesian Ambassador to Zimbabwe and concurrently to Zambia), Agung Cahaya Sumirat (Indonesian Ambassador to Cameroon and concurrently to Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, and the Central African Republic), Agus Priono (Indonesian Ambassador to Suriname and concurrently to Guyana), Muhsin Syihab (Indonesian Ambassador to Canada and concurrently to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)), and Tyas Baskoro Her Witjaksono Adji (Indonesian Ambassador to Kenya and concurrently to Somalia, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, UNEP, and UN-Habitat)
Hersindaru Wahyutomo, the Ambassador to Finland, conveyed potential collaboration in technology with PT Gamatechno Indonesia, as well as opportunities for student exchange with universities there.
Meanwhile, Agung Cahaya Sumirat, the Ambassador to Cameroon, proposed collaborative research on African markets and the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) empowerment.
He noted that silver and batik crafts also have strong potential for cooperation.
“University and polytechnic partnerships are also highly feasible,” he said.
Ambassador Sumirat added that UGM could also explore cooperation in agriculture in various African countries.
“The agricultural sector there has vast plantation areas, and Central Africa is actively expanding its palm oil plantations,” he explained.
Agus Priono, the Ambassador to Suriname, shared that an MSME center has been established and has the potential to partner with UGM.
He also mentioned that the current Minister of Spatial Planning and Environment in Suriname, Marciano Dasai, is a UGM alumnus.
Muhsin Syihab, the Ambassador to Canada, stated that Indonesian universities could collaborate or play a role in capacity building.
Particularly, MSMEs support 80 percent of Indonesia’s economy.
However, only 20 percent of them are certified and standardized according to Canadian requirements.
Tyas Baskoro Her Witjaksono Adji, the Ambassador to Kenya, highlighted educational support through increased student and faculty exchanges.
This would not only help enhance UGM’s international reputation but also offer local students greater exposure to Indonesia.
He also mentioned potential partnerships in agriculture and fisheries to leverage natural resources for improving productivity.
“We hope UGM’s innovations can be utilized to foster impactful collaborations for communities there while also elevating Indonesia’s global image,” he said.
Arief Hidayat, the Ambassador to Zimbabwe, suggested that conflict resolution experts from UGM could collaborate through university-to-university (U2U) programs.
In response to the ambassadors’ proposals, Rector Emilia stated that their ideas align with UGM’s current initiatives.
She welcomed the potential collaborations as part of efforts to enhance the university’s global reputation, including the development of double degree programs.
“I believe this also opens up new opportunities for UGM and other universities,” she said.
Regarding agriculture and livestock cooperation, the rector emphasized that UGM has developed various food crop varieties that could help countries facing food scarcity.
On MSME capacity building, she agreed that universities must play a role in sustainable training and mentoring.
“We hope MSMEs can level up and meet standards in this era of global trade,” she concluded.
Author: Leony
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Photographer: Donnie Trisfian