On February 8th (Thursday) to 9th (Friday), 2024, a commemorative seminar was held at Dogo Prince Hotel in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, for the 10th anniversary of the SUIJI (Six-University Initiative Japan Indonesia) Consortium. The seminar was attended by the presidents of the six universities comprising the SUIJI Consortium (Ehime University, Kagawa University, Kochi University, Gadjah Mada University, IPB University, and Hasanuddin University), John Tjahjanto Boestami, Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Osaka, relevant faculty and staff, and students. This seminar was convened to reflect on past activities and discuss future developments, marking 10 years since substantive operations began in 2013, following the formation of the consortium by six universities from Japan and Indonesia in 2011.
In the opening ceremony, President Hiroshige Nishina of our university, who served as the chair of the SUIJI Consortium in 2023 fiscal year, delivered the opening remarks. Subsequently, in Part 1, “SUIJI Consortium Meeting,” the presidents, vice presidents, and directors of the SUIJI Promotion Office from the six universities reflected on the achievements of the SUIJI initiatives and presented their vision for future advancements, fostering the exchange of information among the universities.
President Nishina provided an overview of the SUIJI Consortium, its objectives, the trajectory of activities since its establishment in 2011, and the accomplishments of the SUIJI programs. He emphasized the promotion of student collaboration in addressing real-world challenges, fostering mutual understanding of each other’s cultures and languages, and expressed the intention to continue enhancing partnerships, expanding programs, and fostering student growth to contribute to a better world. These intentions were shared among the presidents of the consortium universities.
In Part 2, “SUIJI Joint Research, SUIJI Graduate Program,” students who participated in research programs at the master’s and doctoral levels in the past presented their research findings, requests, and proposals for the programs. The SUIJI research programs primarily involve young researchers from three Indonesian universities engaging in research activities at three Japanese universities’ graduate schools for periods ranging from three months to one year, leading to collaborative research and the nurturing of young researchers.
On the second day of the program, Part 3, “A Decade of the SUIJI Consortium,” featured presentations by students who participated in the SUIJI Service Learning Program, engaging in activities in rural areas in Shikoku and Indonesia during their undergraduate studies, showcasing their learning outcomes and related activities. Some alumni shared their experiences of participating in the SUIJI Service Learning Program and subsequently securing jobs spanning both Japan and Indonesia, contributing globally.
In Part 4, “SUIJI Collaborative Education for Global Sustainability in the New Era,” Yulia Priyoningsih, Coordinator of the Education Student Bureau at the Indonesian Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology, introduced Indonesia’s new education strategy, “Kampus Merdeka” , and discussed prospects for the future of education and innovative initiatives. Additionally, Masaki Uemura, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the Higher Education Bureau of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), explained Japan’s higher education policies and various projects targeting ASEAN, highlighting Japan’s leadership and innovative approaches in the global education environment, inspiring participants. Furthermore, Kouji Yoshioka, Chief Officer of the Industrial Policy Division of the Economic and Labor Department of Ehime Prefecture, introduced exchanges with Indonesia in Ehime Prefecture, and Yuriko Nishijima, from the Management Administration Department of Uwajima Project Co., Ltd., presented the company’s initiatives.
In his closing remarks, Rector Arif Satria of IPB University, the incoming chair of the SUIJI Consortium, expressed hopes for further advancement of SUIJI Consortium initiatives under his leadership and anticipated new developments for the consortium in the future.
Ehime University will continue to deepen joint research and education through the SUIJI Consortium and promote internationalization in the fields of education, research, and social contribution.
＜International Relations Office＞