Universitas PGRI Madiun (UNIPMA) strengthened its commitment in building an international cooperation network by receiving an official visit from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) Philippines on Monday, 04/11/2024, yesterday. The visit, which took place at UNIPMA's Integrated Laboratory, was a strategic step for both institutions in expanding academic and research programmes across countries for superior and innovative education.

NEUST Philippines is one of the important partners for UNIPMA in the campus internationalisation programme which includes Faculty Mobility, Student Exchange, Joint Research, and Joint Community Service. The NEUST delegation that attended this time was led by Dr Jo Neil T. Peria (Dean of the College of Education) accompanied by Dr Analiza B. Tanghal (Focal Person, Internationalisation), and Mr. Darwin M. Andres (Lecturer, College of Education). In this series of visits, NEUST will also hold guest lectures until 7 November, with one delegation member who will be at UNIPMA until 19 November to strengthen cooperation.

UNIPMA Rector, Dr Supri Wahyudi Utomo, M.Pd, in his speech expressed his appreciation and enthusiasm for NEUST's visit. ‘This visit is proof of our commitment to continue expanding our academic network at the international level. We hope this collaboration will continue to develop in various other academic fields,’ he said.

In addition to the Rector of UNIPMA, the event was also attended by a number of university leaders such as Dr. Elva Nuraina, S.E., M.Si (UNIPMA Vice Rector for Field I), Dr. Jeffry Handika, M.Pd (Vice Rector for Field IV), Dr. Sardulo Gembong, M.Pd (Dean of FKIP), Sri Lestari, S.Pd., M.Pd (Head of BKH), as well as study programme directors and UNIPMA lecturers.

The Chief Executive, Mrs Nurul Kusuma Dewi, S.Si., M.Sc, said that the NEUST visit was part of a series of collaborations that would continue to be expanded. In December to January, a UNIPMA delegation is also scheduled to visit NEUST to monitor the International Credit Transfer (ICT) programme, in which UNIPMA students carry out studies there. In addition, two NEUST students will join the SEA-Teacher programme for one month at UNIPMA.

As part of strengthening the collaboration, the event was also closed with the signing of an Implementation Agreement (IA) covering various study programmes at UNIPMA, ranging from Physics Education, Biology Education, Faculty of Engineering, Science Education, Pharmacy, Mathematics Education, Law, English Education, Indonesian Language and Literature Education, PGSD, Master of Basic Education, to PPG. This collaboration is expected to further strengthen the relationship between the study programmes of the two universities and open up wider cooperation opportunities.

Through the signing of this agreement, UNIPMA and NEUST are committed to continuing to develop mutually beneficial cooperation and support the achievement of quality education and global competitiveness.a