During a meeting in Jakarta on Thursday (April 16), both sides discussed enhancing existing programs, including student and faculty exchanges, scholarship initiatives, and university partnerships.
Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Brian Yuliarto emphasized the strategic role of higher education in supporting national priority agendas, particularly in advancing downstreaming, industrialization, and key sectors such as sustainable energy.
“We have priority programs aligned with President Prabowo Subianto’s directives. These can be implemented through university initiatives, not only for academic purposes but also to ensure research delivers tangible impact on industry,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
He reaffirmed his commitment to expanding global partnerships to improve the quality of Indonesia’s higher education and research.
He added that international cooperation should also contribute directly to the country’s innovation-driven economic development.
Meanwhile, Austrian Chargé d'Affaires ad interim to Indonesia Michael Wislocki expressed appreciation for the longstanding partnership and reaffirmed Austria’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation, including through expanded academic networks and increased student mobility.
He noted that higher education cooperation between Austria and Indonesia dates back to 1991.
During the meeting, both sides also explored opportunities for more concrete collaboration through joint projects in the energy transition sector, including battery technology, semiconductors, and energy conversion systems.
The discussions also covered efforts to improve the quality of vocational education and to develop research aligned with industrial needs.
The collaboration is expected to integrate universities, industry, and government within a sustainable framework.
As a follow-up, both sides are exploring more integrated cooperation schemes, including large-scale joint projects that combine education, research, and intergovernmental financing.
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Translator: Sean Filo, Raka Adji
Editor: Primayanti
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