University Al-Azhar Indonesia (UAI) and Da-Yeh University, Taiwan (DYU) declared their official cooperation in the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The agreement carried out several subject such as joint research activities (including exchanging faculty members and research students), joint teaching or supervision of students, staging of joint seminars, conferences, and academic meetings, special academic programs, education abroad on the part of undergraduate and postgraduate students, including exchanges, internships, electives, and practicum, exchange of academic materials and other information, collaborative academic programs may involve cultural activities and field visits. In the signing ceremony, the representatives of each institution, Dr. Drs. Zirmansyah, M.Pd. (Vice Rector I for Academic Affairs of UAI) and Mr. Daniel Yuen Teh Liuthe (Director of International Affairs of DYU) signed the agreement at the Rectorate Room of UAI on Thursday (21/3).

In the opening remarks, Dr. Zirmansyah expressed his thanks to DYU on behalf of UAI.  It is a pleasure to him to welcome all the delegations from DYU. “UAI is a home for almost 6.000 students. “As a private higher education located in the Centre of Jakarta, we currently offer 19 bachelor’s programs and four master’s programs. During 24 years of contribution to the education advancement, UAI has been known as a top Islamic-based university in Indonesia”, The Vice Rector I of UAI explained. In the last few words, he hoped that the designed collaborations between the two universities can be implemented, specifically by bringing as many UAI students as possible to get experience studying in DYU.

On that Occasion, Mr. Daniel introduced DYU to all the Academia of UAI. DYU has four Ph.D. programs, 15 MA programs, and 26 bachelor’s programs. Today, the university focuses on 7 colleges from Engineering, Foreign Language, Design and Arts, Management, Nursing and Health Science, Tourism and Hospitality, and Biotechnology. Added some, he mentioned DYU is very strategic for all students especially the international one since it is accessed by very convenient public transportation. Supported by many advanced facilities, DYU is currently applying for a new program launched by the Taiwanese Government. The program provides many advantages to all the international students, mainly Indonesia and one of which is the dual degree one. It allows UAI students to study for three years in UAI and they can continue their study directly to DYU while receiving their master degree. It also offers many scholarships such as the Ministry of Education (MoE), DYU scholarship, and the chance to get a working permit visa for 20 hours per week. Having this matters, he invited UAI to collaborate to get involved in those major English-taught programs including Industrial Design, Business and Engineering.

In the end of the event, the two partners have agreed to advance the collaboration by specifying into the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). The excitement that has been shared by both is expected can lead to a fruitful result. Attending the event, Mr. Richard Wijaya (The President of YKPPI), Dr. Lusi Lian Piantari, S.S., M.Hum. (Dean of Faculty of Humanities), Yoedo Shambodo, S.Sos., M.Si. (Vice Dean of Faculty of Social and Political Sciences), and Amoury Adi Sudiro, S.H., M.H. (Secretary of the Law Department). (TSH)