The University of Queensland has further strengthened its Indonesian ties, with the official opening of its representative office in Jakarta tonight (March 25).
Ratu Sovi Arinta (Sovi) has been appointed to the position of Chief Representative (Indonesia) and will oversee the work of the new commission.
UQ President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Peter Høj led a delegation to Indonesia this week, and said the new office would foster important relationships across research, teaching and professional development, as well as with government, corporate and non-government organisations.
“UQ is proud of our associations with Indonesia’s people and institutions, which have had many positive impacts across our nations and neighbourhood, and beyond.
“The UQ-Indonesia Office – one of only very few UQ bases outside Australia– signifies UQ’s optimism about the future of these relationships, and our confidence in their potential to further contribute to national, regional and global wellbeing and prosperity.
“Tremendous alumni, staff, students, collaborators and other partners underpin our belief in the future of UQ-Indonesia, and I thank the many people whose creativity and ambition will fuel excellent outcomes for individuals and communities, well into the future,” Professor Høj said.
The UQ Indonesia Office is strategically located in central Jakarta, adjacent to the Queensland Trade and Investment’s ASEAN Office. This will allow us to collaborate more directly with our Indonesian partners as well as supporting a whole-of-Queensland approach to Indonesia.”
Mr Greg Moriarty, the Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, said the Australian Government supported deeper education links with Indonesia, because shared knowledge and skills would drive long-term innovation, productivity and economic growth.
“The opening of The University of Queensland’s Indonesia office will benefit its alumni, current and prospective students, and advance its research and technology commercialisation agenda,” Mr Moriarty said.
“It reflects the long-term commitment to Indonesia that the University has demonstrated over many years of engagement.
“Moreover, it is part of a broader recognition by Australian business, educational and political institutions of a shared future with our Indo-Pacific neighbours.”
UQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International) Professor Monique Skidmore said UQ’s engagement with Indonesia aligned with the strategic goals of the Australian and Indonesian governments.
“Indonesia has firmly aimed its national development agenda for science and technology in food/agriculture, energy, transportation, information and communications technology, health and pharmaceutical, and defence,” Professor Skidmore said.
“UQ’s strengths complement these directions and we are well placed to collaborate with our Indonesian institutional, industry and government partners in these efforts.”
Professor Skidmore said UQ had 20 formal research and academic agreements with more than 10 partners in Indonesia.
“These partnerships are with key organisations, including government bodies, research institutes and corporate partners,” she said.
Indonesian research connections and ad-hoc collaborations are spread widely across the University.
“Almost 200 UQ researchers from 18 schools, four institutes and nine centres have collaborated with Indonesian expert researchers over the past decade.
“UQ is the only Australian university in the list of the world’s 20 most co-published universities with Indonesian academics,” Professor Skidmore said.
Key facts on UQ Indonesia partners
• UQ has had longstanding links with Universitas Indonesia and Bogor Agricultural University.
• Formal ties also exist between UQ and Universitas Gadjah Mada, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences and the Ministry of Education, Directorate General of Higher Education.
• UQ signed two exchange agreements in 2013 – with Universitas Indonesia and Universitas Gadjah Mada – aimed at building greater bilateral travel and study opportunities for students.
• Collaborative research between UQ and Indonesia in recent years has concentrated mainly in UQ’s schools of Biological Science, Population Health, Agriculture and Food Science, Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, Veterinary Science and Geography, Planning and Environmental Management.
Contact: (Ms) Ratu Sovi Arinta, UQ Indonesia Office, ph +62 812 104 3682, sovi.arinta@uq.edu.au; Fiona Cameron, UQ Communications, ph +61 7 3346 7086, communications@uq.edu.au
