Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and Foreign Affairs Ministry have agreed to give scholarship to students from member countries of Non-Aligned Movement and developing countries in Asia and Africa. This is expected to strengthen diplomatic ties of Indonesia in international cooperation.
“We believe this cooperation will benefit Indonesia in building South-South cooperation where UGM can be a partner,” said Rector of UGM, Prof. Ir. Panut Mulyono, M.Eng., D.Eng., Ph.D., IPU, ASEAN Eng., after the signing of the cooperation agreement in the conference room of UGM on Thursday (26/12).
According to the Rector, through this cooperation UGM would invite the best young people from Non-Aligned Movement and South to study at UGM. “These best young people from our South-South partner countries will become our ambassadors in their countries after graduating,” he said.
Rector said the same scholarship program would also be given by UGM to the young people from Southeast Asia. “Currently, UGM has given as many as 16 scholarships, now the figure is increased with a full scholarship from UGM,” he said.
Several countries such as Namibia and Palestine, said the Rector, had asked UGM to increase the quota for their students to get the scholarships from UGM.
Diplomat Diar Nurbintoro said the Indonesia’s diplomacy cooperation with the South was not only in the form of physical development but also human resource development. “Our cooperation is not just to develop the infrastructure in many areas, but also the human resources,” he said.
Director of Non-Aligned Movement Center, Ronny Prasetyo Yuliantoro, said the cooperation was expected to enhance Indonesia’s diplomacy with other developing countries in applying its free and active foreign policy. “This cooperation will bring good results not just to Indonesia but also member countries of Non-Aligned Movement and developing countries that need Indonesia’s role in capacity development,” he said.
