Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Robert Gordon University (RGU), United Kingdom, have officially established a partnership in education, research, and student and faculty mobility. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by UGM Vice Rector for Research, Business Development, and Cooperation, Dr. Danang Sri Hadmoko, and RGU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Dr. Duncan Cockburn at the UGM Central Office Building on Tuesday (September 15).
Dr. Hadmoko welcomed the signing of the partnership. RGU had previously established a collaboration with the UGM Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB UGM), and he hoped to expand it into broader areas, including education, research, student exchange, and human resource development.
“We hope this partnership will grow, not only in education but also through collaboration between the two institutions,” Dr. Hadmoko said.
Dr. Cockburn explained that RGU’s mission is to transform individuals’ lives and communities in Scotland by empowering people to become leaders in their own communities. Its curriculum is therefore tailored to specific subject areas. RGU also has business and startup accelerator programs that support regional economic growth.
“Our teaching process focuses on practice, with many classes involving professionals through joint projects and internships,” he explained.
Dr. Cockburn also described how the two universities initially connected through discussions among academics at an event, which later developed into collaboration between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from the two countries. The partnership is expected to serve as a starting point for further collaboration across various areas.
“I very much look forward to seeing this partnership continue to grow and develop in the future,” he said.
During the collaboration discussion, Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Cooperation, and Alumni Affairs at FEB UGM, Gumilang Aryo Sahadewo, Ph.D., expressed interest in developing double-degree programs and student exchanges, facilitated by RGU’s online learning arrangements, which allow students to attend classes at both universities more easily.
“Our collaboration focuses on the business school, and we hope it can begin next year,” Gumilang said.
The discussion identified several potential areas of collaboration, including research on artificial intelligence and robotics, energy transition, architecture, and the environment, which the universities will discuss further in the future. Through this partnership, the two universities are expected to open opportunities for institutional collaboration across a broader range of areas.
Author: Jesi
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-Editor: Jasmine Ferdian
Photo: Donnie