Mataram, University of Mataram – The Rector of University of Mataram (Unram), Prof. Ir. Bambang Hari Kusumo, M.Agr.St., Ph.D. visited Pukyong National University (PKNU), Busan, South Korea in order to participate in the 3rd consortium which took place on May 22, 2024.

The consortium was attended by several rectors and rector representatives who attended as delegates from 14 Indonesian universities.

The PKNU consortium with several universities in Indonesia was originally formed in 2022 at PKNU, with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Then continued with the second meeting in Indonesia, at the Semarang State University (UNNES). At that time, Unram was represented by the Vice Rector for Planning, Cooperation, and Information Systems, Prof. Akmaluddin, S.T., M.Sc.(Eng.), Ph.D. accompanied by the Head of the Office of International Affairs (KUI), Prof. Ir. Dahlanuddin, M.Rur.Sc., Ph.D..

In this 3rd consortium, discussed several things that will be done together in the future and have been agreed upon several agreements. The first and ongoing agreement is that PKNU is ready to accept two students from consortium members and cover student accommodation.

“So students can take short courses without paying and without renting dormitories or lodging on campus. And we from the university will prepare tickets for the two students,” explained the Rector of Unram when interviewed by Unram Public Relations, Tuesday, June 10, 2024.

The second agreement is that PKNU will fund two to three international collaborative researches offered to consortium members. In this case, Unram itself expressed its readiness to be involved in the collaborative research.

“At that time, it was also agreed that Indonesian universities who want to join the consortium are welcome to join.
And later there will be two to three universities in South Korea in addition to Pukyong National University to join this consortium,” said Prof. Bambang.

It was also agreed that, for next year, the 4th meeting which will host the consortium meeting is Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB).

From the meeting, the Rector of Unram expressed his hope that Unram could establish more intensive cooperation with PKNU, especially in fields that excel in PKNU.

“ Obviously this collaboration with PKNU is important because they are very strong in the field of marine science, and we hope that Unram’s aquaculture study program can be involved. And in the future we can work together in other fields,” he concluded.