UTS strengthens research ties with Indonesia

UTS has signed a collaborative agreement with the Indonesian government which will see more Indonesian students complete their PhD studies at UTS.

UTS joined the Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN) in the new agreement with the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP).

The collaboration is a significant step in UTS's ongoing ties with one of the country's most important partners.

Professor William Purcell, Deputy Vice-Chancellor International and Advancement at UTS, led the ATN delegation in Jakarta earlier this month.

Purcell says ATN universities' reputation for technology-driven, industry-focused learning was a key drawcard for LPDP.

"We are honoured that ATN universities are partnering with LPDP to facilitate some of Indonesia's best and brightest to further their academic and professional careers.

"A key element of the value proposition for the LPDP has been our members' close ties to industry, offering research opportunities that deal with real world problems, alongside genuine industry experiences."

The new agreement is another boost for UTS and its ATN partners who all rank in the world's Top 25 Universities under 50 years old.

ATN's five members, UTS, Queensland University of Technology, RMIT University, University of South Australia and Curtin University, currently teach 22 per cent of Australia's international university students.

Purcell said the new agreement highlights ATN universities' reputation as the new generation of world-leading higher education providers.

The new collaboration also signals a deepening of UTS's ongoing engagement with Indonesia.

At present UTS has an Indonesian alumni network of more than 2000 and is engaged in a range of collaborative partnerships with Indonesian institutions.

UTS partnerships in Indonesia have facilitated many opportunities for Indonesian students to study at UTS. Dominika Anggraeni was the beneficiary of another strategic UTS partnership with her home institution, Universitas Multimedia Nusantara (UMN) in Jakarta.

Anggraeni was awarded a scholarship on behalf of UTS:INSEARCH and UMN which allowed her to continue her studies with a Master of Design in Animation at UTS.

"Studying at UTS has been an empowering experience for me," she says. "The learning experience at UTS is very different from my previous studies. The most different thing is all the open-mindedness, I feel like the environment is just more open and diverse."

Raka Ardian is another Indonesian postgraduate student benefiting from UTS's strategic engagement with his home country.

Ardian, a former forensic biologist with the Indonesian National Police, is studying a Master of Science (Forensic Science) at UTS with the support of an Australia Awards Scholarship.

He previously studied at one of UTS's eight partner institutions in Indonesia, Universitas Gadjah Mada.

Ardian says his experience at UTS has created opportunities to deepen ties between the two nations.

"We have 3000 islands and 250 million civilians, but there are not many forensic scientists in Indonesia," he says.

"Australia has a lot of experience in the field, especially with technology. I believe we can strengthen our relationship and collaboration by providing new information about forensics, especially between the Indonesian National Police and the Australian Federal Police."  

Ardian says he will have an ongoing relationship with Australia after he's returned home.

"I have a lot of friends here, a lot of networks, with my professors and forensics lecturers. It's really helpful with forensic science. We can support each other in crime scene investigation, especially when it comes to counter terrorism, which is a global problem."

The new agreement between LPDP and ATN is testament to the two nations' mutual interests and is an encouraging sign of our deepening relationship.

The new agreement was signed shortly after a large delegation of Australian ministers and business leaders travelled to Indonesia for the 2015 Indonesia Australia Business Week.

The 360-strong delegation highlighted education as one of the key bilateral trade and investment ties between the two nations.