RRI.CO.ID, Yogyakarta – Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta is strengthening its role as a hub for international collaboration by deepening ties with Qatar in higher education, research, and innovation.

The latest step came with a visit from Qatar’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Sultan bin Mubarak Saad Al-Dosari, and his delegation to the UGM campus on August 3, 2026.

The meeting marked a key moment in expanding cooperation between UGM and Qatari institutions, including opportunities for academic mobility and joint funding schemes to support education, research, and community service.

UGM reaffirmed its commitment to collaborative research and knowledge exchange aimed at addressing global challenges while enhancing human resource development.

Quoting the university's official website, UGM’s partnerships with Qatar date back to 2021 and have grown steadily through student and lecturer exchanges, joint research, and publications.

Formal agreements with Qatar University and the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), valid until 2030, provide a foundation for long‑term academic cooperation.

Over the past three years, UGM has hosted multiple high‑level visits from Qatari officials, participated in the Indonesian Education Expo in Doha, and signed a memorandum of understanding with Qatar University.

Delegations have also engaged with leading institutions such as Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, and Sidra Medical and Research Center.

Collaboration has extended to faculty level, with UGM’s Vocational School exploring applied engineering partnerships with UDST. UGM has also submitted a strategic partnership proposal to Hamad Bin Khalifa University to broaden cooperation.

The partnership is entering a new phase with the development of artificial intelligence initiatives. In 2025, UGM and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison agreed to establish the NVIDIA AI Technology Center (NVAITC) Joint Centre, set to launch on August 13, 2026. The center will advance flagship projects including e‑Nose TB, Tech4Disaster, and Smart Agriculture.

Through these initiatives, UGM aims to expand collaboration beyond education and research into innovation, technology, and global problem‑solving, while reinforcing Indonesia–Qatar relations and ASEAN’s role in regional competitiveness. ***