Universitas Indonesia (UI) welcomed a delegation from University College London (UCL) to discuss potential academic collaborations spanning joint degrees, mobility programs, research partnerships, and visiting scholar initiatives. The meeting underscored the strong commitment of both institutions to expanding international engagement and creating impactful global opportunities for students and faculty.
The UCL delegation consisted of Lucy Thompson, Deputy Head of Communications; Dr. Wei Chen, Lecturer (Teaching) in Robotics and AI, Computer Science; Dr. Dorothy Ferary, Lecturer (Teaching), Institute of Education; and Prof. Hervé Borrion, Professor of Crime Science, Security and Crime Science.
Representing UI were Fadhilah Muslim, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., DIC, Director for Internationalization of Education; and Yunitha Fajarwati, S.Hum, Section Head for International Education Partnership.
During the meeting, UCL highlighted that its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) framework operates university-wide, allowing collaboration across all faculties. Both institutions expressed enthusiasm for exploring multiple forms of partnership, including:
Master’s Dual Pathway (1+1 Program): One year of study at UI followed by one year at UCL. UI noted that establishing this structure would be feasible.
Joint Degree (3+2 Program): A pathway in which students complete an undergraduate degree at UI and continue to a master’s degree at UCL.
Short Courses and Summer Schools: UCL’s Summer School offers three-week sessions from mid-June to early August, open to all faculties, providing UCL credits upon completion.
Joint Research and Seminars: Opportunities for government-funded collaborative research and co-hosted academic events.
Program-to-Program Collaboration: UCL plans to connect its Communication Science program and Faculty of Psychology with UI to explore dual-degree possibilities at the master’s level.
Undergraduate-Level Joint Programs: Both sides recognized that undergraduate joint degrees may attract more consistent participation compared to postgraduate programs, which rely heavily on scholarships.
UI Short Programs: UI shared its short-course offerings of 1–2 weeks (2 credits) and 4 weeks (3 credits), with UI transcript and certificate issuance.
Visiting Professorship and Guest Lectures: UI’s visiting professor scheme could host UCL academics for guest lectures and short teaching engagements.
UCL emphasized the importance of beginning with concrete collaborative activities before formalizing an MoU, while UI reiterated that an MoU is essential to establish dual-degree pathways and student exchanges. Both universities agreed to continue communication to advance the MoU and outline practical steps for implementation.
This meeting marks a significant milestone in strengthening the partnership between UI and UCL, paving the way for innovative educational initiatives and meaningful academic cooperation.
Photo Credit: Directorate for Internationalization of Education
