Indonesia is working to strengthen its academic, scientific, and research ties with Saudi Arabia, according to the Ministry of Higher Education. This comes after discussions with the Kingdom's ambassador to Jakarta about future collaboration.
Indonesia’s Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, met with Saudi Ambassador to Indonesia Faisal Abdullah Amodi to explore opportunities for cooperation in higher education between the two nations.
“We are committed to expanding cooperation between Indonesian and Saudi universities”, Yuliarto said in a statement.
“We hope that more Indonesian professors can collaborate with their counterparts at the top Saudi universities, partnering in more programs and research projects”,
Further talks are expected to take place after Eid Al-Fitr, involving rectors from Indonesian universities, the ministry said.
There are currently more than 2,000 Indonesians studying in Saudi Arabia, which is one of the top destination countries for young scholars from the Southeast Asian nation.
Saudi-Indonesian ties span centuries, but have gained momentum in recent years following King Salman’s visit to Indonesia in 2017, which has since sparked more bilateral exchanges.
In education, collaboration includes exchange programs and Saudi scholarships for Indonesian students.
Saudi Arabia's higher education sector is experiencing rapid growth, becoming globally competitive and innovative, in alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals. Emphasizing quality, international partnerships, STEM education, and research, Saudi Arabia is establishing itself as a leader in education within the Gulf region.
Additionally, Saudi Arabia has supported the development of numerous schools and universities in Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim-majority nation.
