Depok (ANTARA) - The University of Indonesia (UI) and China's Xiamen University expanded their collaborative programs, including student exchange and joint research, according to UI's University Secretary, Agustin Kusumayati.

To this end, Kusumayati recently signed a memorandum of understanding with President of Xiamen University Professor Zhang Zongyi.

Regarding the student exchange program, each university could send two fifth semester undergraduate students or two third semester postgraduate students to participate in it for one academic year, she remarked.

The UI is committed to supporting its students to join the student mobility programs to study at reputable universities in various countries, she noted here, Wednesday.

In this regard, UI continues to make all-out efforts to derive optimal benefits from Indonesia's Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry-initiated Freedom to Learn, Independent Campus (MBKM) Program, she stated.

The UI and Xiamen University's student exchange program could be focused on students from the faculties of economics and business, social and political sciences, and administrative sciences, Kusumayati remarked.

"The MBKM Program paves the way for our students to study outside their campus. We do support the students, who are keen to participate in such programs as internship, student exchange, and community service," she stated.

Meanwhile, President of Xiamen University Professor Zhang Zongyi introduced his campus, saying that as part of China's leading universities, it consistently supports the government's programs.

Prof. Zhang also highlighted his university's close relations with Southeast Asia, as most Chinese people, who migrated to the region, came from the province where Xiamen University is located.

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ANTARA reported earlier that the University of Indonesia, whose main campus is located in Depok, West Java, has been adjudged the best university in the country.

In the annual ranking of global universities released by Webometrics in January 2023, UI was named the best university in Indonesia.

UI Rector Ari Kuncoro noted in a recent statement that the university has maintained its commitment to becoming an innovative, independent, inclusive, dignified, and leading higher educational institution in Southeast Asia and the world.

One of the efforts to globalize its education and research is made through collaborations with various reputable overseas universities.

UI's Faculty of Engineering, for instance, has also worked with Osaka University to boost research projects that may provide new innovations and findings that can help resolve problems at the global scale.

Dean of the UI Faculty of Engineering Professor Heri Hermansyah stated recently that Osaka University was selected to be a partner due to its strong academic and interdisciplinary research tradition.

To this end, he had signed a memorandum of understanding with Dean of Osaka University's School/Graduate School of Engineering Science Professor Shigeo Wada.

The MoU focuses on student and faculty exchanges that provide both students and lecturers of the two universities with opportunities to learn from one another.

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Translator: Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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