UGM welcomed French Ambassador Fabien Penone to discuss potential cooperation in education and research on Thursday, October 5.
France sees Indonesia as a crucial partner for cooperation, highlighting its large and democratic population, significant influence, and potential to collaborate on science, health, and social humanities research.
Fabien Penone, accompanied by his delegation, was warmly welcomed by the UGM Vice-Rector for Education and Teaching, Professor Wening Udasmoro, and her team at the UGM Central Building.
“Indonesia is one of the three significant countries and a priority for cooperation with France,” Ambassador Penone said.
Ambassador Penone mentioned several reasons that make Indonesia an attractive partner for cooperation with France. Cooperation is pursued to address various global issues and strengthen the global economy.
The ambassador pointed out that another reason for wanting to cooperate with Indonesia is due to its large and democratic population. Indonesia also wields significant influence today and plays a vital role in the ASEAN region and the Indo-Pacific.
He expressed an interest in establishing cooperation with educational institutions in Indonesia, including UGM.
UGM is one of the major universities in Indonesia with the potential to become a valuable partner for cooperation in education and research with French educational institutions.
He hopes for future collaborations involving student exchanges, scholarships, and research collaborations.
“There is potential for cooperation between UGM and educational institutions in France to conduct research in the fields of science, health, and social humanities,” he stated.
Professor Wening Udasmoro welcomed the cooperation proposal presented by the French Ambassador to Indonesia.
She mentioned that UGM has already established cooperation with several educational institutions in France, including a partnership between the UGM Faculty of Cultural Sciences and La Rochelle University since 2007.
Cooperation has also been initiated between several faculties at UGM and universities in France.
“Connecting UGM with universities in France is a crucial aspect. Currently, UGM is striving to improve the quality of education through various programs,” she explained.
These ongoing programs foster student and faculty exchanges, research collaborations, and guest lectures.
“We hope existing cooperation can be strengthened and expanded into other areas. Our big hope is to collaborate on implementing double-degree programs and joint lectures to enhance the quality of education at UGM,” she emphasized.
The vice-rector hopes the discussions during this visit can lead to concrete follow-up actions. This way, both parties can realize the benefits and contribute to global development.
Author: Ika
Photographer: Firsto