In an effort to enhance the quality of education towards becoming a World Class University, Diponegoro University (UNDIP) has made a breakthrough by holding an Audience with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) for New Zealand, located in Wellington, New Zealand, on May 22, 2024.
The UNDIP delegation, led directly by the Chairman of the Board of Trustees (Prof. Mohamad Nasir, Ph.D) and the Chairman of the Academic Senate (Prof. Edy Rianto, Ph.D), met directly with Mr. Tumpal M. H. Hutagalung, Coordinator of Information and Socio-Cultural Functions, and Mr. Lucky Artha El Saud, Coordinator of Political Functions at the Indonesian Embassy in Wellington. Prior to this, the UNDIP delegation was informally received by Mrs. Fientje Maritje Suebu, the Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand, in Auckland, New Zealand, on May 21, 2024.
Mr. Tumpal Hutagalung stated that the bilateral relationship between Indonesia and New Zealand is currently quite intensive, making it very possible to establish various collaborations, especially in the field of education.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees and the Chairman of the Academic Senate conveyed several points, including UNDIP’s current policy of becoming a world-class university, which includes increasing the number of doctorates at UNDIP who can pursue further studies at major universities in New Zealand, particularly those in the top 100 QS WUR. Additionally, the collaboration in research and publication, as well as the increase in citations for UNDIP lecturers with partner universities in New Zealand, were discussed. UNDIP also offered opportunities for foreign lecturers from higher education institutions in New Zealand to become visiting lecturers or visiting professors at UNDIP, as well as double degree collaborations with partner institutions in New Zealand.
The discussion also addressed the need for study programs related to Indonesian culture and other special programs. As Mr. Tumpal Hutagalung conveyed, it is hoped that UNDIP can contribute to fulfilling these high needs.
Also present at the same occasion was a representative of the New Zealand Diaspora, Mr. Budhi Arta Surya, who is currently a lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington, School of Mathematics and Statistics. He mentioned the opportunity to open an Actuarial study program to meet the demand for actuaries in the job market. The discussion was also held with other members of the UNDIP delegation, including Prof. Ambariyanto, Ph.D (Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Cooperation), Dr. Agus Indarjo (Secretary of the Board of Trustees), Prof. Dr. Purwanto (Head of Planning and Development), Prof. Dr. Denny Nugroho Sugianto (Head of the WCU Task Force), and Dessy Ariyanti, Ph.D (Member of the WCU Task Force).
The Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, and Cooperation stated that since 2020-2021, UNDIP has been organizing World Class University (WCU) activities such as Diaspora Forums through International Webinars/Seminars and initiating cooperation from several regional clusters around the world. Furthermore, it was conveyed that in 2022-2023, the diaspora were invited by UNDIP to participate in visiting lecturer and visiting professor activities at UNDIP, with one of the outputs being Joint Research, Joint Publication, and cooperation between the Universities of origin of the Diaspora.
On this occasion, Vice Rector UNDIP Prof. Ambariyanto conveyed several opportunities for collaboration with several diaspora campuses and publication collaborations with the diaspora to develop the quality of education, research, and service at UNDIP. The role of the diaspora is vital in supporting the enhancement of cooperation and the World-Class University program activities of UNDIP, both now and in the future.
