As a university fully committed to exploring new avenues to forge strong ties with international markets, Tarumanagara University (UNTAR) on 21st January 2016 hosted a visitation by the Australian Embassy to its main campus in Jakarta. Led by Mr Paul Grigson as the current Australian Ambassador to Indonesia and Mr Matthew Barclay as the embassy’s First Secretary for Political Affairs, the visiting delegation was formally welcomed during a ceremony held in UNTAR’s Executive Lounge that also featured a series of cultural performances by students as well as a speech delivered by Prof. Ir. Roesdiman Soegiarso, M.Sc., Ph.D in his capacity as Rector of UNTAR. Notably, this visitation was the first to be conducted by the Australian Embassy to an Indonesian university in 2016 – an indication of UNTAR’s growing prominence on the global stage as a leading institution of higher education.

In his speech, Prof. Ir. Soegiarso emphasized the many benefits of cooperation between UNTAR and universities in Australia, and particularly focused on the potential for research collaboration and student exchange. This sentiment was echoed by Mr Grigson during his remarks, in which he also commended UNTAR for its implementation of modern facilities. As part of the visit, the Australian Embassy delegation was provided with an opportunity to tour the university’s museum, theatre, and photography studio among other cutting-edge amenities. Mr Grigson and Prof. Ir. Soegiarso together also carried out a live streaming dialogue session on UNTAR’s radio station.

Going forward, UNTAR hopes that it will be able to build upon this visitation in forming close links with the Australian Embassy and its network of prominent institutions of higher education.