EduAsiaNews, Bangkok Thailand – Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta (UPNVJ) concluded its international mission in Thailand with four strategic outcomes focusing on student mobility, scholarships for further study, international networks, and doctoral education. The achievements were presented during an audience with the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to the Kingdom of Thailand and Permanent Representative to UNESCAP, represented by Education and Cultural Attaché Raniela Aruan, at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Bangkok on Friday (September 4, 2026).
The audience marked the final stage of UPNVJ’s series of activities in Thailand, which had previously included educational promotion, the exploration of higher education partnerships, and meetings with several academic partners. UPNVJ Rector Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, MA., Comm., presented the outcomes of the mission while discussing potential support from the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok to ensure that the partnerships initiated could soon be translated into programs delivering direct benefits to students, faculty members, education and administrative staff, and alumni.
One of the concrete outcomes was the opening of internship opportunities for five UPNVJ students at the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok. The participants comprise one Communication Science student, two Law students, and two International Relations students. The program is designed to provide international professional experience while strengthening students’ competencies through direct engagement in Indonesia’s diplomatic environment in Thailand.
The next achievement concerns human resource development through cooperation with Walailak University. UPNVJ has secured opportunities for its alumni and education and administrative staff to pursue master’s degrees, as well as access to doctoral study opportunities for faculty members through scholarship schemes available at the university.
This scheme represents a strategic opportunity, as Walailak University is offering various postgraduate scholarships for the 2026 academic year, including full tuition waivers for a number of master’s and doctoral programs subject to specific academic requirements. UPNVJ will follow up on these opportunities by mapping prospective candidates and identifying academic programs aligned with the university’s institutional development needs.
UPNVJ will also follow up on the process of joining the Asian International Mobility for Students (AIMS), a regional student mobility program coordinated by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO RIHED). Participation in this network is expected to expand opportunities for UPNVJ students to undertake cross-border academic mobility while accessing support schemes available through governments and program partners.
AIMS serves as a multilateral cooperation platform bringing together governments, higher education institutions, and students from several Asian countries. Through this network, students from participating universities can undertake academic mobility at member institutions in accordance with their fields of study and applicable regulations, including credit transfer mechanisms.
The fourth outcome was the exploration of cooperation between UPNVJ and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Thailand, particularly in the development of doctoral education. The prospective partnership is aimed at expanding access for UPNVJ faculty members and human resources to advanced education, joint research, and international academic networks across Asia.
AIT has a long-standing record of cooperation with Indonesia and, throughout 2026, has continued to expand its partnerships with various Indonesian higher education institutions and government agencies in the areas of postgraduate education, research, academic mobility, and doctoral programs. These opportunities are considered well aligned with UPNVJ’s efforts to accelerate improvements in faculty members’ academic qualifications while expanding international research collaboration.
UPNVJ Rector Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, MA., Comm., emphasized that these four achievements demonstrate that UPNVJ’s internationalization agenda is focused on measurable outcomes. International cooperation should not stop at the signing of agreements, but must generate tangible benefits, including internship opportunities for students, further study opportunities for faculty members and education and administrative staff, international mobility, and academic and research collaboration that can strengthen the university’s quality.
According to Venus, the audience at the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok also formed an important part of UPNVJ’s educational diplomacy efforts. Support from Indonesia’s representatives in Thailand is expected to facilitate communication with partners, help open access to strategic programs, and ensure that UPNVJ’s international partnerships deliver tangible benefits for human resource development and enhance the university’s reputation at the regional level.
With these four achievements, UPNVJ concluded its mission in Thailand with a clear follow-up agenda. Upon returning to Indonesia, the university will consolidate the internship program for five students at the Indonesian Embassy in Bangkok, prepare candidates for postgraduate study opportunities at Walailak University, follow up on participation in AIMS, and develop a framework for doctoral program cooperation with the Asian Institute of Technology as part of UPNVJ’s internationalization strategy.(www.upnvj.ac.id)
