EduAsiaNews, Jakarta – Pattani, Southern Thailand. Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta (UPNVJ) strengthened its international education diplomacy through a meeting with Sub. Lieutenant Sombat Singkarn, Deputy Governor of Pattani Province, as part of the Indonesia Education Fair and INSPIRE Forum 2026 held at C.S. Pattani Hotel, Southern Thailand, on Tuesday (September 1, 2026).
The meeting was part of the first day of the INSPIRE Forum 2026, which brought together local government authorities, universities, and educational institutions from Indonesia and Thailand to establish collaboration in higher education, research, innovation, and human resource development.
UPNVJ Rector Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, M.A., Comm., together with the UPNVJ delegation, held discussions with the Pattani Provincial Government on opportunities to strengthen academic relations that could deliver direct benefits to communities through education, research, and community engagement.
Venus emphasized that the internationalization of higher education should be directed toward collaborations that generate tangible impacts, rather than merely establishing formal institutional relationships.
“International cooperation is not merely about building relationships between institutions, but also about ensuring that academic knowledge and expertise can benefit communities. Universities have a role as bridges between communities through education, research, innovation, and community engagement,” said Venus.
On the occasion, UPNVJ also introduced its identity as a National Defense University (Kampus Bela Negara), which promotes the values of national defense in a modern context through academic, social, and humanitarian contributions.
According to Venus, the concept of Bela Negara today is not limited to national defense but is also reflected in the ability of the academic community to make contributions based on knowledge and expertise.
“Impactful Bela Negara means how members of the academic community use their expertise to create benefits, build collaboration, and provide solutions to various challenges faced by society,” he explained.
The meeting with the Pattani Provincial Government served as a strategic opportunity to strengthen educational relations between Indonesia and Thailand. The INSPIRE Forum 2026 provided a platform for exchanging ideas among various stakeholders from both countries, including government representatives, universities, and educational institutions.
The forum also highlighted developments in Indonesia-Thailand educational relations, including student and academic mobility. Currently, 795 Indonesian students are pursuing full-time studies in Thailand, while 42 Indonesian academics are serving as lecturers at various Thai universities.
Educational collaboration between the two countries has taken various forms, including student exchanges, academic mobility, joint lectures, Indonesian for Foreign Speakers (BIPA) programs, and institutional partnerships between universities.
UPNVJ views Indonesia-Thailand educational relations as a strategic opportunity to expand its regional academic network. Through strengthened international cooperation, the university is committed to enhancing the quality of education, providing students with global experiences, and contributing to the development of higher education in Southeast Asia.
For Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, M.A., Comm., internationalization must remain grounded in the principle of creating meaningful benefits. Higher education should not merely serve as a platform for knowledge exchange, but also as a means of fostering connections among communities and developing shared solutions for Indonesia and Thailand.(www.upnvj.ac.id)
