"We hope it can run this year," Minister Yuliarto stated after his meeting with Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, ASEAN, and Timor-Leste, Faisal Abdullah H. Amodi, at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia here on Tuesday (June 5).
He expressed optimism that cooperation would be carried out this year, noting that previous collaborations between universities in both countries had been conducted independently.
"By working together, we can consolidate (efforts), so that it can run in a more structured manner, and hopefully, there will be greater cooperation," Yuliarto affirmed.
Proposed areas for collaboration include joint research cooperation between campuses in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia as well as partnerships among professors from both countries.
Yuliarto also suggested a joint degree or double degree program collaboration between campuses in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.
"We also hope to build cooperation with visiting professors. Professors in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia to visit each other, and of course, with joint degrees and double degrees, our students can be guided together by professors in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia," he stated.
The minister emphasized that the Indonesian government views universities in Indonesia and Saudi Arabia as being on equal footing since institutions from both countries are similarly ranked among the world's top universities.
With this equal position, he expressed hope that cooperation between campuses in both countries would run more smoothly, and mutual progress would also be realized between universities in both nations.
To follow up on the proposed cooperation, his ministry, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will send an official letter regarding the proposed program that has been presented for immediate follow-up.
He also did not rule out the possibility of visiting Saudi Arabia to accelerate the implementation of the cooperation.
"We will see if a visit is needed to accelerate cooperation, of course, it is not something difficult for us to be able to visit the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Higher Education," Yuliarto remarked.
Responding to the proposal, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, ASEAN, and Timor-Leste, Amodi, highlighted the importance of academic cooperation in strengthening cooperation ties between the two countries.
"We know that the relationship between the two countries is currently very significant, very important, and experiencing extraordinary improvements in various fields and levels," he affirmed.
Additionally, the two countries share very close historical relations.
Through this meeting, he expressed hope that cooperation in the education sector would continue to increase and experience extraordinary developments in the future.
"All proposals presented by the Ministry of Higher Education and Technology and other government institutions are of great concern to the Saudi Arabian Government, and we will execute them carefully so that cooperation can be achieved between the two countries," the ambassador stated.
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Translator: Katriana
Editor: Arie Novarina
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