Mataram, University of Mataram — The University of Mataram (Unram) received a visit from the Consul General of Japan in Bali, Miyakawa Katsutoshi, on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, at the Rector’s Meeting Room, Unram Rectorate. The visit aimed to discuss potential collaboration between Unram and Japan.

The discussion was conducted as part of efforts to strengthen and expand existing cooperation. Both Unram and Japan are committed to continuously advancing international partnerships.

In her remarks, Unram’s Vice Rector for Planning, Cooperation, and Information Systems, Dr. Sitti Latifah, S.Hut., M.Sc.Forest.Trop., stated that collaboration between Unram and various institutions in Japan has shown significant progress. This serves as an important foundation for building broader and more sustainable cooperation in the future.

“Collaboration between Japan and the University of Mataram began with international research and has since expanded into education. We hope it will continue to grow sustainably in the future,” she said.

Responding to her remarks, the Consul General emphasized that such progress is largely driven by strong interpersonal relationships, such as the connections between university leaders in Indonesia and Japan.

“The most important factor in the development of inter-university cooperation is people,” said Miyakawa Katsutoshi.

One of Unram’s flagship initiatives highlighted during the discussion was the “Impactful Professor” program, which focuses on the tangible contributions of academics in addressing societal challenges. This program is considered to have strong potential for collaboration with international partners, including Japan.

During the discussion session, the Dean of the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) Unram, Drs. Lalu Zulkifli, M.Si., Ph.D., expressed hope that the consulate could facilitate broader collaboration across all departments. He also proposed the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with universities in Japan, which could later be followed by more specific Memoranda of Agreement (MoA) tailored to each study program.

“We hope the Consulate can facilitate an MoU that covers all faculties and study programs,” he stated.

Meanwhile, the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB) Unram, Dr. Ihsan Ro’is, S.E., M.Si., noted that initial cooperation has already begun at the institutional agreement level, including the involvement of lecturers with academic backgrounds from Japan.

Dr. Ihsan Ro’is also raised important points regarding potential collaboration with Japan’s private sector, particularly in relation to protection and regulatory aspects.

Through these initiatives, Unram remains optimistic about strengthening its position as an institution actively engaged in global networks while delivering meaningful contributions to society.