Mataram, University of Mataram – The Rector of the University of Mataram (Unram), Prof. Ir. Bambang Hari Kusumo, M.Agr.St., Ph.D. received an award from the Assembly of Rectors of Indonesian State Universities (MRPTNI) as the Executive Coordinator of the “Joint Working Group (JWG) MRPTNI” for the 2023 Indonesian State Universities International Cooperation Project. The award was handed over directly by Plt. Director General of Higher Education, Research and Technology, Prof. Ir. Nizam, M.Sc., DIC, Ph.D., IPU, ASEAN.Eng, on 25 February 2024 at Shangri-La Hotel Jakarta.

A total of 20 state universities received awards in recognition of contributions in the implementation of MRPTNI activities during 2023, including Unram.

Prof. Bambang explained that the award was given to Unram for its role and contribution as the coordinator in the Joint Working Group and MRPTNI’s international cooperation in 2023, especially focusing on cooperation with South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia.

“Cooperation with these three countries has been initiated. The Rector of Unram along with several Rectors and Vice Rectors from several universities have gone to South Korea, to Seoul National University (SNU), met with the Rector of SNU. And until now these activities are being processed to become or form a Joint Working Group between universities in South Korea and universities in Indonesia,” he explained.

In addition, the Rector of Unram has also initiated several meetings with the Ambassador of New Zealand in Jakarta to initiate Joint Working Group with universities in New Zealand.

“Some rectors have gone to the University of Waikato. The University of Waikato is the head of the consortium of universities in New Zealand. So, at that time the meeting was in Hamilton at the University of Waikato, there was also a meeting in Auckland, and continued with a meeting in Wellington. There were 3 meetings at that time, including meetings with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in New Zealand that had also been initiated,” added the Rector of Unram.

Another collaboration that has been initiated is with the Australian government. The Rector of Unram and the Rector of Padjadjaran University have held a meeting at the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2023. The aim is to initiate a Joint Working Group between universities in Indonesia and Australia.

“This is why Unram was honoured in its efforts to initiate and form a Joint Working Group for the three countries. In the near future, we will indeed hold a Zoom Meeting with the MRPTNI board in order to follow up on everything that has been initiated in 2023 related to the Joint Working Group and MRPTNI’s international cooperation,” said the tenth Rector of Unram.

“Of course, we are all very proud of our involvement in encouraging other universities to build Joint Working Groups with universities in at least those three countries. This is considered outstanding. Of course, for us Unram not only builds Unram’s cooperation with several foreign universities, but also plays a role in encouraging how the assembly of rectors consisting of many state universities in Indonesia to participate in establishing cooperation with foreign universities, then the Joint Working Group that I mentioned earlier was built,” he continued.

Prof. Bambang hoped that this award would be an encouragement for Unram to continue to move forward and work towards becoming a World Class University as a future target. And Unram can continue to contribute in advancing Indonesian universities in order to strengthen international cooperation, not limited to three countries, but with universities throughout the world.