In order to develop educational cooperation between Indonesia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, Universitas Indonesia (UI) held a meeting with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) Sarajevo. The arrival of the delegation from the Indonesian Embassy in Sarajevo led by the Indonesian Ambassador to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Drs. H. Roem Kono, M.I. Pol., was welcomed by the University Secretary, dr. Agustin Kusumayati, M.Sc., Ph.D.; Acting Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ir. Dedi Priadi, DEA; and Director of Cooperation, Dr. Toto Pranoto.
- Agustin believes that the collaboration between UI and universities in Bosnia-Herzegovina can be expanded. “We have positive expectations for the exploration of this cooperation considering the history of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UI and the University of Zenica in 2019 through the mechanism of sending UI Faculty of Medicine students to study for several months there,” said dr. Agustin, in her welcoming speech for a visit conducted on October 31 in Meeting Room A, 2nd Floor, University Administration Center Building, UI Depok Campus.
Previously, UI had collaborated with five universities in Bosnia-Herzegovina, namely the University of Tuzla, the University of Sarajevo, the University Dzemal Bijedic of Mostar, the University of Zenica, and the University of East Sarajevo. The collaboration between UI and the University of Zenica is still active, while the other four need to be renewed. Therefore, Ambassador Roem Kono expressed his readiness to be an intermediary for UI and universities in Bosnia Herzegovina so that this collaboration continues.
The collaboration between UI and universities in Bosnia-Herzegovina will begin with a student exchange program. Ambassador Roem Kono said that the exchange program mechanism could involve other academics, such as lecturers and education staff, as conveyed by the Rector of the University of Zenica, Prof. dr. Jusuf Durakovic. “Prof. Jusuf advised UI not to hesitate to involve more parties, because, here, we will prepare the best accommodation for the best sons and daughters of Indonesia. We also invite UI to visit the Indonesian Embassy in Sarajevo to see Bosnia-Herzegovina’s readiness to accept international students,” he said.
Bosnia-Herzegovina is a country in Southeast Europe that has a fairly good quality of education with 8 state universities and 22 private universities. Education in this country excels in the fields of medicine, dentistry, industrial engineering, and metallurgical engineering. Three universities, namely the University of Sarajevo, the University of Banja Luka, and the University of East Sarajevo, are in the top 5% globally based on the Webometrics Ranking. This proves that graduates of these universities are able to compete with graduates of top campuses in the European Union.
