Dili, July 17th 2026 – Education, once again, has proven to be a powerful bridge for strengthening the relationship of Indonesia and Timor-Leste. This spirit was reflected in the event titled “Strengthening Cross-Border Collaboration in Education, Research, and Community Engagement between the Republic of Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste,” held at the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT) on Friday (July 17th).
The program began with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) between the Graduate School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (SPs UGM) and the Dili Institute of Technology. The ceremony was witnessed by the Deputy Prime Minister II of Timor-Leste, while the exchange of commemorative gifts symbolized the enduring friendship and shared commitment of both institutions to advancing cross-border collaboration.
The Deputy Prime Minister, in his opening remarks, highlighted the close relationship of Indonesia and Timor-Leste, emphasizing the historical and cultural ties two nations shared and also the same island. He noted that this geographical proximity provides a strong foundation for building a shared future with education, research, and human resource development.
He also underscored the importance of cooperation within the ASEAN community, particularly in addressing development challenges such as improving nutrition and reducing stunting. According to him, academic collaboration can generate evidence-based solutions that contribute to the well-being of communities in both countries.
Delivering an inspiring message to the students attending the event, he encouraged young people to embrace challenges, saying, “As young people, you must learn to love challenges, because it is through challenges that character is built.”
Following the MoA signing, the program continued with an academic forum featuring scholars from the Graduate School of UGM and DIT, who presented their research and exchanged perspectives on opportunities for collaborative research, educational development, and community engagement. The lively discussions reflected a shared commitment to producing knowledge that addresses regional and global challenges.
The participation of students from both UGM and DIT further enriched the event by fostering academic exchange and strengthening people-to-people connections between Indonesia and Timor-Leste. These interactions showed the two institutions hope to inspire future collaborative initiatives that will contribute meaningfully to the development of both countries and the broader ASEAN region.
Authors: Sri Pangesti Tuhu