RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Gadjah Mada University is seeking to deepen its global academic footprint by expanding partnerships with universities and research institutions in the Netherlands and Germany.

The effort was highlighted during an official visit by Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Marc Gerritsen and German Ambassador to Indonesia Ralf Beste to UGM’s main campus on Wednesday, May 20, 2026.

UGM Rector Ova Emilia welcomed the visit, saying there are still broad opportunities to strengthen research collaboration, particularly through small-scale research funding that could lead to larger strategic partnerships.

“Existing collaborations can continue to be strengthened through further discussions and concrete initiatives in various strategic sectors,” she said, as quoted on UGM's official website.

Dutch Ambassador Marc Gerritsen described UGM as one of Indonesia’s most prestigious universities, with strong foundations for broader academic and scientific cooperation with the Netherlands.

He praised the university’s dynamic environment, where science, arts, and innovation are encouraged not only to achieve academic excellence but also to create social impact. “Knowledge should not remain only on campus but should also be introduced to society and create real impact,” he said.

He added that the Netherlands is working with Indonesia’s Education Endowment Fund (LPDP) to provide scholarships in strategic fields such as horticulture, agriculture, food systems, and water management, areas considered highly relevant to Indonesia’s development priorities.

According to him, Indonesian students are encouraged to study at institutions such as Wageningen University & Research and Delft University of Technology before bringing their expertise back to Indonesia.

Meanwhile, German Ambassador Ralf Beste emphasized that educational cooperation remains one of the most important foundations for long-term international relations.

He highlighted the role of the German Academic Exchange Service in strengthening educational and research ties between Germany and Indonesia through long-standing people-to-people exchanges.

Beste also cited Indonesia’s third president, B. J. Habibie, as an example of how studying in Germany had a significant impact on national development in Indonesia.

UGM Deputy Rector for Research, Business Development, and Cooperation Danang Sri Hadmoko said the university has produced more than 600 joint publications with Dutch universities and nearly 500 with German institutions.

He added that the Netherlands and Germany remain among the most popular study destinations for UGM students, with discussions ongoing regarding joint funding schemes, student mobility, and collaborative research projects.

UGM is also expanding partnerships through programs such as Erasmus+ while strengthening ties with Dutch institutions including Wageningen University & Research.

At the same time, UGM’s Gelanggang Inovasi dan Kreativitas (GIK) or Innovation and Creativity Hub introduced opportunities for collaboration in innovation, international student internships, artist residencies, and creative industry partnerships involving investors and incubators.

According to GIK CEO Alfatika Aunuriella Dini, the innovation hub is designed to connect industry, startups, accelerators, and venture capital to accelerate innovation and international cooperation across education, technology, arts, and culture. ***