UQ forges Indonesian connections

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Tags: Indonesia, international collaborations, summer-2011

Alumni Dr Sri Tiatri, Trina Fizzanty and Dr Nur Hygiawati Rahayu at the Global Challenges event in Jakarta

The University of Queensland extended its academic, government and alumni partnerships during a tour of Indonesia earlier this year.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Debbie Terry led a successful delegation in May.

The program included visits to partner institutions, meetings with senior Indonesian ministers, a suite of seminars and alumni functions, and briefings from Australian government agencies.

Among the highlights was the signing of a new UQ partnership with one of Indonesia’s leading research institutes – the Eijkman Institute of Molecular Biology. The visit to the institute included the inaugural joint UQ-Eijkman seminar, which featured a presentation about UQ’s dengue fever research by Professor Paul Young.

A new agreement was also signed between UQ’s Faculty of Business, Economics and Law and Indonesia’s largest and oldest national university, Universitas Gadjah Mada, complementing an existing Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions.

Dean of the UQ Graduate School, Professor Zlatko Skrbis, delivered the first Indonesian UQ Research Higher Degree seminar in Jakarta, followed by a talk from Indonesian UQ PhD graduate Dr Siti Zulaiha.

Professor Greenfield capped off the visit with a presentation entitled “Universities in the 21st century: their role in solving global challenges” to enthusiastic audiences in Jakarta and Yogyakarta.

The presentations were part of the UQ Global Challenges Leadership Series, which sees experts discuss major international challenges with alumni and partners around the world.

Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Greg Moriarty endorsed the UQ visit at an official reception hosted at his residence.

The tour coincided with the launch of the translated version of UQ publication Coral Reefs and Climate Change: A Guide for Education and Awareness by Mr Moriarty and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad.

Mr Moriarty was also on hand to present UQ graduate Professor Endang Sukara, Vice-Chairman of the Indonesian Institute of Science, with the Australian Alumni Award for Excellence in Research and Innovation.

Following the Indonesian tour, UQ delegations visited Japan, Vietnam, India, Oman and the United Arab Emirates in October and November.

By Elspeth Muir

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