The collaboration between the two popular universities in Indonesia and the campus in Japan is in the education sector and international cultural exchange.
Bunkyo Gakuin University Chairman Masakazu Shimada noted in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday that he was deeply honored to collaborate on educational development with a well-regarded university in Indonesia.
"I am sure that through the exchange of students with different cultural backgrounds, we can contribute to developing human resources who are able to play an active role in the global community," Shimada stated.
Shimada expressed optimism about the promising opportunities of collaborating with UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, as Bunkyo Gakuin University is planning a research project on the effects of weather on health that requires data digitization.
He added that this field is well-suited for data science, with joint research, including data collection involving students from both universities.
"The ultimate goal is to be able to contribute to improving the health of the Indonesian people," Shimada stated.
UI Chancellor Heri Hermansyah expressed hope that the international agreement will serve as the basis for beneficial cultural exchanges.
"Educational and cultural exchanges between Japan and Indonesia will provide new international insights for young people in both countries and advance understanding and cooperation in the Asian region," Heri affirmed.
On another occasion, Vice Chancellor for Cooperation and Institutional Development of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah, Din Wahid, expressed hope for a student and lecturer exchange program between the two universities.
Wahid highlighted UIN Syarif Hidayatullah's position as Indonesia's first State Islamic University and its status as one of the world's largest Islamic educational institutions.
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Bunkyo Gakuin University oversees universities, high schools, junior high schools, and two kindergartens.
The MoU signing at the UI Depok Campus, West Java, was attended by Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure and Facilities, Agus Setiawan, and Director of Collaboration Development, Asset Commercialization, and Integrated Areas, Winny Hanifiati Warouw, along with Bunkyo Gakuin University Chairman Masakazu Shimada and International Program Office representative Kosuke Tanaka.
Meanwhile, the MoU signing with UIN Syarif Hidayatullah took place at the Ciputat Campus, South Tangerang, Banten, attended by Vice Dean for Student Affairs, Alumni, and Partnerships of the Faculty of Education, Salamah Agung, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology, Husni Teja Sukmana, and eight other officials.
The MoU aims to foster cooperation in international student and staff exchange programs, joint research projects promoting multicultural understanding, sharing of cultural resources, and educational exchanges to deepen mutual understanding between the two countries.
The first concrete program to be realized soon includes international student exchanges, intercultural understanding workshops, and multicultural research projects.
Sustainable international partnerships are hoped to be built on shared cultural values and mutual respect between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Sakuranesia Foundation founders, including Tovic Rustam and Sakura Ijuin, as initiators of the meeting between UI and UIN with Bunkyo Gakuin University, Japan, witnessed the activity.
"We want to continue the extraordinary educational legacy established by our predecessors for the next generation by serving as a bridge between the two countries," Ijuin stated.
Additionally, the meeting between Bunkyo and UI was facilitated by Eko Waludi, director of PT. UI Corpora, a holding company owned by UI.
The meeting between Bunkyo University and UIN Syarif Hidayatullah was initiated by the director and co-founder of the Artificial Intelligence Center Indonesia (AiCI), Baiq Hana Susanti, a lecturer at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah.
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Translator: Citro A, Azis Kurmala
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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