Universitas Indonesia and ISNAD Foundation Strengthen Cooperation to Support Palestinian Students

Universitas Indonesia (UI) held a follow-up meeting with the ISNAD Foundation to formalize their commitment to expanding educational opportunities for Palestinian students. The meeting was led by Prof. Ir. Mahmud Sudibandriyo, M.Sc., Ph.D., Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs of Universitas Indonesia, and marked the culmination of discussions initiated in the previous week.

Delegation from ISNAD Foundation:

• Dr. Abdallah Abuqasemiya, Scholarship Staff Member
• Dr. Faraj Heneini, Scholarship Staff Member
• Dr. rer. nat. Agustino Zulys, M.Sc., Head of Biman Foundation
• Suwanto, L.c., Interpreter
• Rais, S.T., Education Manager, Biman Foundation
• Abdul Mujib A., M.Si., Staff Member, Biman Foundation

Delegation from Universitas Indonesia:

• Prof. Ir. Mahmud Sudibandriyo, M.Sc., Ph.D., Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs
• Fadhilah Muslim, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., DIC, Director, Internationalization of Education
• Yunitha Fajarwati, S.Hum., Section Head, International Education Partnership, Directorate for Internationalization of Education

The meeting served as a continuation of discussions held the previous week, during which both parties successfully finalized an MoU that was prepared for signing at this session. The agreement reflects a shared commitment to supporting Palestinian students seeking higher education opportunities.

During the meeting, Prof. Mahmud expressed UI’s deep concern regarding the current situation in Palestine and reaffirmed the university’s readiness to welcome Palestinian students who wish to continue their studies at Universitas Indonesia. UI also highlighted the existence of its Palestine Centre, which can play a strategic role in supporting and developing related academic programs.

ISNAD Foundation, represented by Dr. Abdallah Abuqasemiya, conveyed appreciation for UI’s openness and collaboration, expressing hope that this partnership would bring meaningful benefits to Palestinian students.

Under the agreed framework, the number of students admitted will be determined through an internal selection process. Eligible students will be able to choose from 33 English-taught study programs across various faculties at UI, covering undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels.

Currently, UI hosts approximately 300 international students, with plans to increase this number to 1,000 international students by 2026 as part of its broader internationalization strategy. To support academic integration, an agreement has also been reached with Indonesian language instructors to begin Bahasa Indonesia courses for Palestinian students starting in January.

This collaboration underscores Universitas Indonesia’s commitment to humanitarian values, inclusive education, and global solidarity through concrete academic support and international partnerships.

Photo Credit: Directorate of Public Relations, Media, Government and International Affairs