Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University have agreed to collaborate in several strategic areas.
The initiation of this collaboration was marked by the signing of a memorandum of understanding by the UGM Vice Rector for Education and Teaching, Professor Wening Udasmoro, and RMIT University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Business and Law and Vice-President, Professor Julie Cogin, at the UGM Central Building on Tuesday (November 28).
“The government is opening up many opportunities for Indonesian students to gain international exposure by studying at universities and interning in international companies. Hopefully, RMIT can be one of the destination universities for our students,” said Professor Udasmoro.
The vice-rector explained that student exchange is a widely sought-after program at UGM. This is evident from students’ enthusiasm to participate in the Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards (IISMA) program by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. UGM is the second university that sends the most students to participate in this program.
She added that UGM, as one of the leading universities in Indonesia, is also responsible for improving the quality of education in Indonesia. Therefore, international exposure is essential for students, lecturers, and researchers.
“We want lecturers to see what education facilities and laboratories are like there, as well as the ongoing research,” Professor Udasmoro said.
In line with this, the Vice-President of RMIT University also stated that Indonesia remains one of the main destinations for Australian students to participate in student exchange programs.
“Our students are very interested in coming to Indonesia. As the pandemic has subsided, and borders are starting to open, young Australians are eager to go abroad and experience a different atmosphere,” said Professor Cogin.
She said that RMIT is interested in exploring future collaboration potentials, including providing vocational education.
“We have a fairly large vocational school, so we are looking forward to discussions about future opportunities,” she added.
In this brief meeting, academics from UGM and RMIT discussed strategic issues, including challenges for today’s younger generation. Both institutions are committed to providing meaningful learning for students, preparing them to be excellent human resources after completing their education.
This collaboration also aligns with UGM’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations.
The collaboration aligns with the fourth goal (Quality Education), which ensures inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all, and goal 17 (Partnership for the Goals), which strengthens the means of implementation and revitalizes the global partnership for sustainable development.
Author: Gloria
Photographer: Donnie