Hong Kong, March 24, 2026 – As part of its commitment to strengthening the internationalization of higher education and enhancing academic and research quality, Universitas Indonesia (UI) conducted an exploratory visit to The University of Hong Kong (HKU). The meeting, held at the HKU campus, marked an initial step toward building strategic collaboration between the two institutions across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons.

The visit was led by UI Rector, Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, accompanied by university and faculty leaders. Among those present were Prof. Dr. Hamdi Muluk (Vice Rector for Research and Innovation), Fadhilah Muslim, Ph.D. (Director of Internationalization of Education), Vishnu Juwono, Ph.D. (Director of UI GreenMetric), Dr. Untung Yuwono (Dean of the Faculty of Humanities), Prof. Yon Machmudi (Deputy Director of the School of Environmental Science and Sustainable Development), and Dr. Brian Amy Prasetyo, M.H. (Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law).

The Faculty of Administrative Science (FIA UI) delegation was led by its Dean, Prof. Dr. Dra. Retno Kusumastuti, M.Si., along with Prof. Dr. Teguh Kurniawan, M.Sc. (Vice Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs), Prof. Dr. Milla Sepliana Setyowati, M.Ak. (Vice Dean for Resources, Venture, and General Administration), Dr. Eko Sakapurnama, MBA, CHRM (Head of Graduate Program), and Tyas Wida Handoko, S.I.A., M.Sc. (Coordinator for Graduate Program Development).

The UI delegation was welcomed by HKU leadership, including Professor Richard Wong (Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor), Dr. Paul Lee (Acting Director of Communication and Public Affairs), Prof. Shahla Ali (Associate Dean for International Affairs), Prof. Sida Liu (Associate Dean for Taught Postgraduate Programmes Development), Prof. Trevor Wan (Assistant Professor), and Agnes Ip (Faculty Secretary).

During the discussion, the UI Rector presented a collaboration roadmap focused on concrete implementation. In the initial phase, cooperation will center on lecturer-initiated joint research and joint supervision for postgraduate students. In the medium term, UI opened opportunities for HKU academics to serve as visiting professors in international classes. In the long term, both institutions will explore the establishment of double degree programs, beginning with study program alignment and curriculum mapping.

UI also introduced non-degree initiatives, including Indonesian Language and Culture courses for expatriates—particularly Chinese workers whose presence in Indonesia continues to grow—as a response to evolving global labor and investment dynamics.

FIA UI played an active role in the discussion. The Dean of FIA UI proposed the development of a double degree program for the Master of Governance and Policy. In addition, FIA UI encouraged collaboration through student field trips to Indonesia, allowing HKU students to gain first-hand experience in public policy and governance practices.

In response, HKU expressed strong interest in the proposed initiatives. While its current double degree programs remain concentrated within the Faculty of Law and its School of Innovation focuses more on engineering-related fields, HKU remains open to interdisciplinary collaboration, including through industry internships and project-based learning.

Furthermore, HKU highlighted the potential for developing a Joint PhD Program, emphasizing the importance of meeting academic qualification standards as a key prerequisite. This aligns with UI’s ongoing commitment to strengthening academic quality and readiness in establishing international collaboration at the master’s and doctoral levels.

This visit is expected to serve as a strong foundation for the Faculty of Administrative Science UI and other faculties within Universitas Indonesia to accelerate internationalization efforts, expand global academic networks, and produce graduates and research with meaningful international impact.