Eight Indonesian educational attachés in eight countries agreed to promote Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in the countries where they are assigned. The promotion will be done to attract foreign students to enroll in international programs offered by UGM. The attachés are assigned to the Philippines, the Netherlands, the Americas, UK , Malaysia, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Egypt.
Head of Bureau of Planning and Foreign Cooperation Ministry of National Education, Dr. R. Agus Sartono, MBA, said that the visit is to strengthen UGM’s cooperation with those countries. "We hope that cooperation with the 13 countries can involve these attachés," said Agus Sartono.
The delegation was received by Senior Vice Rector of Academic, Research, and Community Service, Prof. Dr. Retno S. Sudibyo, M.Sc., Apt., and Senior Vice Rector of Administration, Finance, and Human Resource, Prof. Ainun Na'im, Ph.D. In her speech, Prof. Retno said that there are 856 foreign students from 55 countries studying at UGM. Each year, the number of foreign students increases by 18 percent. "I hope that the number can be increased each year," she said.
In addition, she mentioned that every year UGM handles more than 900 research activities to generate more than 650 national and international publications. Apart from international programs for foreign students, UGM also offers programs of community empowerment through KKN PPM. "Many foreign students, including from Germany, Korea, Norway and Austria, are involved in this program. Each year 100 billion rupiah is allocated for the KKN PPM programs," she ended.