Depok, West Java (ANTARA) - The Jakarta State Polytechnic (PNJ) and Institut Français Indonesia (IFI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate in the field of education and culture.

The PNJ director Zainal Nur Arifin and IFI director Stéphane Dovert signed the MoU at the PNJ Depok Campus on Friday.

"This collaboration is hoped to realize PNJ's vision as an international standard polytechnic to support the nation's competitiveness," Arifin said.

The cooperation, which will establish a French Center, is a form of goodwill to improve the quality of education and build a strong noble culture, he explained.

According to Dovert, the cooperation will forge a strategic relationship between France and Indonesia because the countries need to prepare future generations through education.

"This cooperation is not limited to space and time, if not forever," he said.

Under the cooperation, the French Center will be established in the PNJ library building, which will provide information on further study opportunities and preparation for students who wish to study in France.

In addition, the French Center will aim to introduce the French language and culture to PNJ students, staff, and the general public.

The MoU signing activity was also attended by IFI cooperation deputy attaché Gema Akbar Pratama, IFI education cooperation coordinator Mathilde Croquet, and Warung Prancis national coordinator Ryan Rinaldy.

The information from Foreign Affairs Ministry's website noted that Indonesia and France have a Joint Working Group (JWG) on education.

The JWG program seeks to bring the higher education institutions of the two countries together to consolidate all aspects of ongoing cooperation and develop cooperation in other fields.

There are several universities in France that offer the Bahasa Indonesia language program, which serves as an introduction to Indonesian culture in France.

Translator: Feru L, Kenzu
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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