Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) reaffirmed its ongoing collaboration with VIA University College Denmark, underscoring its commitment to internationalization and its goal of becoming a world-class university. The renewed partnership was discussed during a follow-up meeting held on Thursday at the UNNES Rectorate Building.
The session continued the two institutions’ cooperation in academic and cultural programs that have been jointly implemented over the years. Erik Juul, Head of International Program Development for Asia at VIA College Denmark, said the Danish institution plans to send more students to UNNES in 2025. These students will participate in short courses focused on Indonesian culture and join teaching internships (PPL) at UNNES’s partner international schools.
“The partnership with UNNES provides our students with a valuable opportunity to experience education and culture in Indonesia,” Juul said. “We look forward to strengthening this collaboration through more student and faculty exchanges.”
According to Dr. Lulu April Farida, Head of the UNNES International Office, the cooperation between UNNES and VIA College began in 2016 and has consistently expanded. “In 2023, 14 VIA students joined internship monitoring and evaluation programs at the UNNES Labschool while also learning about Indonesia’s diverse culture,” she said.
Beyond student mobility, the partnership will also open opportunities for UNNES lecturers to participate in teaching programs at VIA, facilitating broader academic engagement. Both sides also discussed potential collaborations in visiting professor programs and joint research initiatives, aiming to deepen academic integration and promote shared learning experiences.
The meeting was attended by representatives from the UNNES International Office, faculty leaders, the Secretariat of LP3, international cooperation task forces, and administrative and finance officers, as well as heads of laboratories and Labschool units.
UNNES officials emphasized that this long-term collaboration not only enhances global exposure for students and faculty but also aligns with the university’s support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) — by promoting inclusive, cross-border education and international academic cooperation.