The Rector of Syiah Kuala University (USK), Prof. Dr. Ir. Marwan, along with 10 renowned university rectors in Indonesia, received an invitation from the German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD Regional Office in Jakarta, to participate in a matchmaking and networking session with a delegation of 20 rectors from Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) in Germany. Accompanying the USK Rector was the Dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), Prof. Dr. Taufik Fuadi Abidin, S.Si., M.Tech, and the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, Prof. Ir. Sugianto, M.Sc., Ph.D. The matchmaking event took place on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at the University of Indonesia, Depok, West Java.
The event commenced at 3:00 PM WIB in the Floating Room, UI Campus, opened directly by the Rector of the University of Indonesia, Prof. Ari Kuncoro, SE, MA, Ph.D. In his address, Prof. Ari emphasized that collaboration determines the direction of education and research development in such rapidly changing times as the present era. This matchmaking activity provided an excellent opportunity for rectors to establish cooperation among institutions. Remarks were also given by the Deputy Secretary General of DAAD, Dr. Michael Harms. He expressed hope that collaboration between universities in Germany and Indonesia would continue to thrive, strengthen, and bring significant benefits to both countries.
“For some of the German delegation, universities in Indonesia will become new partners. Therefore, our task is to inform German university rectors about possible cooperation opportunities with universities in Indonesia, such as advanced studies, student/staff mobility, and joint research,” Harms said. The matchmaking meeting served as a friendly direct discussion forum between the two institutions to foster various tangible collaborations. “Hopefully, there will be return visits from Indonesian university rectors to Germany in the future,” Harms joked.
The Indonesian universities invited were the University of Indonesia (as the host), Gadjah Mada University, Bogor Agricultural Institute, Bandung Institute of Technology, Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, Diponegoro University, Brawijaya University, Padjajaran University, Syiah Kuala University, Hasanuddin University, and Jember University.
Meanwhile, from Germany, the universities in the field of Applied Sciences that were present included:
- OTH – Technical University of Applied Sciences Amberg-Weiden
- Technical University of Applied Sciences Aschaffenburg
- IB University of Applied Sciences for Health and Social Studies Berlin
- HMKW University of Applied Sciences for Media, Communication and Management Berlin
- University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt
- University of Applied Sciences Hannover
- Harz University of Applied Sciences
- University of Applied Sciences Heilbronn
- Ernst-Abbe Jena University of Applied Sciences
- University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern
- University of Applied Sciences Kiel
- Technical University of Applied Sciences Lübeck
- University of Applied Sciences Mainz
- University of Applied Sciences Merseburg
- University of Applied Sciences Munich
- University of Applied Sciences Münster
- Technical University of Applied Sciences Ostwesfalen-Lippe
- University of Applied Sciences Rhein Main
- University of Applied Sciences Stralsund
- Merz Academy
One interesting point raised by the Rector of the University of Applied Sciences Ernst-Abbe Jena, Prof. Dr. Steffen Teichert, was that for research and development, UAS Jena closely collaborates with business partners and the industrial world. UAS Jena focuses on research related to precision systems, technology, materials, health, and digitization. Collaboration with industry partners is influenced by Jena’s history as a location for industries, especially in optics and photonics, health, and life sciences. The matchmaking event concluded with a dinner and relaxed discussions between the two delegations.
