Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) held the International Office Conference (IOC) 2024, themed Global Harmony, from November 28 to 30, 2024, at the Royal Ambarrukmo Hotel in Yogyakarta. The three-day event attracted over 80 participants representing various institutions from Indonesia and abroad.
The IOC 2024 was supported by the NUNI (Nusantara University Network) consortium, Passage to ASEAN, and several universities in Indonesia, including BINUS University, Universitas Swadaya Gunung Jati, Universitas Islam Riau, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, and Universitas YARSI. Activities included pre-conference workshops, parallel presentation sessions, a talk show, networking sessions, and a cultural program featuring a Merapi Lava Tour.
UII Rector, Prof. Fathul Wahid, emphasised that Global Harmony was chosen because harmonious global relations are essential for achieving sustainable development worldwide.
“Universities play a significant role in fostering global harmony, serving as hubs for knowledge, innovation, and cultural exchange. Collaboration among universities is crucial for sustainable development and promoting peace and intercultural understanding,” said Prof. Fathul.
The pre-conference workshops on November 28 featured three speakers: Dr.rer.nat Dian Sari Utami from UII, Prof. Andri Andriyana from Universiti Malaya, and Yong Kit Mun from Temasek Polytechnic Singapore. Discussions revolved around crucial topics such as managing international student welfare, developing sustainable partnerships and global recognition, and impactful international mobility programs. The workshops engaged 25 participants, resulting in program designs addressing these topics.
The main event on November 29 began with a welcome speech by Prof. Setyabudi Indartono, Head of LLDIKTI Region V, and was officially opened by UII Rector Prof. Fathul Wahid. The day’s highlights included a keynote speech by Dr Wiryono Raharjo, Director of Passage to ASEAN Consortium for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and parallel presentation sessions with 47 participants from various institutions.
The talk show session, *”Unlocking Opportunities for International Projects and Grants: Strategy and Best Practices for Erasmus+ EU and DAAD,”* featured four distinguished speakers:
- Destriani Nugroho, Program Manager for Education, EU Delegation to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam
- Dr. Guido Schieders, Director of DAAD Regional Office, Jakarta
- Dr. Sid Suntrayuth, Dean, ICO NIDA Thailand
- Dr. Wiryono Raharjo, Vice-Rector for Partnerships and Entrepreneurship, UII
- The session provided insights into accessing international funding, mainly through DAAD and Erasmus+ programs, including Key Action 2 (cooperation projects) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (research and innovation).
The conference concluded with a networking session, enabling participants to forge connections at both national and international levels. On the final day, attendees joined the Merapi Lava Tour, enriching their experience in Yogyakarta through cultural exploration.
Prof. Fathul expressed hope that IOC 2024 would strengthen efforts to internationalise higher education in Indonesia by enhancing access to international funding, sharing best practices, and initiating partnerships and networks between universities domestically and internationally.
Through IOC 2024, UII reaffirmed its commitment to fostering national and international synergies that support sustainable education and global harmony.
Source: suaramerdeka.com