University of Islam Malang (Unisma) continues to finalize the Independent Learning- Independent Campus program. This time, Unisma expanded its international network to France. On Wednesday (17/2), Unisma was warmly welcomed by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Indonesia to France.
In the virtual meeting, Unisma conveyed its idea to expand cooperation with universities and industries there. The agenda is Unisma’s effort in implementing Independent Learning- Independent Campus program mandated by the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia.
Unisma rector, Prof. Dr. H. Maskuri, M.Si, said that cooperation with the country is a necessity for Unisma which is determined to become a world-class campus. And it has been implemented in the last few years. Until now, 125 foreign universities have collaborated with Unisma. “This cooperation is an integral part of the development of Unisma,” he said.
Prof. Maskuri hopes that the collaboration with France can strengthen Unisma’s networking abroad. There are several programs offered to build this cooperation. One of them is student exchange. For this program Unisma is ready to provide scholarships to students from Paris and vice versa. There are opportunities for Unisma and its students to study in Paris.
Furthermore, the rector of Unisma added, cooperation with France could also be carried out in the form of an international conference. It also includes mutual use of libraries and laboratories. “Hopefully the Indonesian Ambassador to France can facilitate us in building cooperation especially in this era of industrial revolution 4.0. which requires higher education to innovate and build global networks, “he said.
Up to now, Unisma has built cooperation with 34 countries both from Europe, Asia and the Middle East. And there are 220 students who are currently studying at this top campus of Nahdlatul Ulama. Unisma’s excellence is proven by achieving the 44th rank out of 4600 state and private universities throughout Indonesia and become the best private campus in Malang city based on he Ministry of Education and Culture’s version. “We continue to improve the quality, one of which is by expanding overseas,” he concluded.
The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia to France, represented in this matter by the Education and Cultural Attache of the Indonesian Embassy in Paris, France, Prof. Warsito, welcomed the idea of Unisma very well. Warsito firmly expressed his joy in accepting Unisma to cooperate.
“We really support Indonesian universities that want to collaborate with France especially for Unisma. We will not differentiate between state and private campuses, ”he said.
For Prof. Warsito who is from Nganjuk, Malang City is not a strange city to him. He had taken a bachelor’s degree at one of the state universities in Malang. “If I go back to my hometown and have time to visit Malang, I will stop by and give a public lecture at Unisma,” he said.
