The Faculty of Administrative Sciences at Universitas Indonesia (FIA UI) recently held a collaborative meeting with Professor Edoardo Ongaro from The Open University, UK. The event took place at the Smart Class, 3rd floor of the M Building at FIA UI, and aimed to strengthen research capacity and enhance international cooperation, particularly between FIA UI and The Open University.

During the meeting, FIA UI outlined its 12 research clusters spread across three departments: Public Administration, Business Administration, and Fiscal Administration. These clusters offer valuable opportunities for both students and faculty members to engage in joint research projects. The goal is not only to address pressing national issues but also to respond to contemporary challenges and seize future opportunities.

The meeting opened with remarks from the Dean of FIA UI, Professor Dr. Retno Kusumastuti Hardjono, who expressed her hope that this collaboration would develop into a long-term partnership and evolve into broader academic activities in the future.

“Through this meeting, we hope the collaboration will significantly strengthen FIA UI’s international partnerships and boost our research capacity,” said Professor Retno.

In his presentation, Professor Edoardo highlighted three key areas for strategic research: governance and social innovation, crisis management, and organizations under crisis conditions. He emphasized that effective research collaboration requires three essential elements: the ability to write for an international audience, strong research capabilities, and access to funding sources.

“The key to starting any research collaboration is building strong personal relationships, which can then gradually grow into institutional partnerships. One-on-one communication with potential partners forms the foundation of any successful cooperation,” said Professor Edoardo.

He also stressed the importance of choosing the right research themes to build long-term reputation. The strategic aim, he noted, is to position oneself in such a way that others seek you out for collaboration, rather than the other way around. This meeting is expected to mark an important first step for FIA UI in reinforcing its global standing and establishing itself as a center of research excellence responsive to global challenges.