Universitas Indonesia (UI) welcomed a diplomatic delegation from the Embassy of Guatemala to strengthen ties and explore opportunities for academic and cultural collaboration. The meeting, held at the UI Depok campus, focused on the potential reactivation of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Universitas Indonesia and San Carlos University in Guatemala.
Embassy of Guatemala Delegation:
H.E. Jacobo Cuyún Salguero – Ambassador of Guatemala in Indonesia
Ms. Sarah Widodo – Assistant to the Ambassador
Universitas Indonesia Delegation:
Fadhilah Muslim, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., DIC – Director for Internationalization of Education
Prof. Arie Afriansyah, S.H., M.I.L., Ph.D. – Director of Public Relations, Media, Government, and International
Dr. Muthia Pramesti, S.E., M.M. – Assistant Director, International Education Program Development and Partnership, Directorate for Internationalization of Education
The meeting began with Prof. Arie Afriansyah warmly welcoming Ambassador Jacobo Cuyún Salguero back to Universitas Indonesia, expressing UI’s honor in hosting him again. Prof. Arie noted that Guatemala’s expertise in agriculture and trade presents valuable opportunities for academic exchange and knowledge-sharing, particularly in fields relevant to Indonesian students.
Ambassador Jacobo expressed his appreciation for the warm reception and commended Universitas Indonesia as the largest and most prestigious university in Indonesia, recognizing its long-standing reputation for academic excellence. He emphasized the importance of empowering future generations and fostering mutual understanding between Guatemalan and Indonesian students, highlighting the cultural similarities between the two nations as a strong basis for collaboration.
A key focus of the meeting was the reactivation of the MoU between Universitas Indonesia and San Carlos University, which had become inactive in recent years. Ambassador Jacobo conveyed his keen interest in revitalizing this academic partnership to formalize new collaborative efforts.
Dr. Fadhilah Muslim addressed the need to increase student mobility between Indonesia and Guatemala, noting that organizing information sessions and cultural awareness programs could help raise interest and participation. She also emphasized the value of cross-cultural academic experiences in broadening students’ perspectives.
Prof. Arie further proposed that Ambassador Jacobo consider delivering a guest lecture at UI as part of the university’s ongoing effort to introduce diverse global perspectives to its academic community.
The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing on the following steps:
Reactivation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Universitas Indonesia and San Carlos University.
Implementation of collaborative activities under the renewed MoU framework, including:
Guest lectures
Academic exchanges
Cultural and student engagement programs
This meeting marks a positive step toward deeper educational diplomacy and mutual learning between the two nations, reinforcing Universitas Indonesia’s commitment to global academic partnerships.
Photo Credit: Directorate of Public Relations, Media, Government and International Affairs
