Indonesian and Chinese Universities Expand Scholarships and Student Exchanges
Ten universities from Indonesia and China are forging partnerships by offering various flagship programmes and scholarships to attract more international students from both countries. This is expected to further strengthen academic collaboration, research, and the mobility of students and lecturers amid increasingly close bilateral relations between Indonesia and China.
“This activity not only serves as a promotional platform for Indonesian and Chinese higher education institutions but also strengthens academic cooperation between the two countries,” said Lestari Puspitaningsih, Education and Culture Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, during an online seminar on the “Internationalisation of Higher Education between Indonesia and China” on Saturday (27/6), according to a written statement.
According to Lestari, the activity also opens wider opportunities for Indonesian and Chinese students to gain international academic experience through various study programmes, student exchanges, and available scholarships.
The five Chinese universities participating in the activity were Hebei International Studies University (HISU), Xiamen University, Fujian Polytechnic Normal University (FPNU), Northeast Normal University (NENU), and Hefei University of Technology (HFUT). Meanwhile, Indonesia was represented by Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA), Universitas Andalas (UNAND), and Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD).
Lestari explained that the China branch of the Association of Indonesian Language Teachers and Activists for Foreign Speakers (APPBIPA) has now been established. Formed on 12 June 2026, it is the organisation’s seventh branch. “We are trying to embrace the professional association of Mandarin language educators in Indonesia as well as several Indonesian and Chinese universities for this activity, considering the importance of expanding academic collaboration as part of strengthening Indonesia-China bilateral relations through education, research, and the mobility of students and lecturers,” she said.
Hendy Yuniarto, Chair of APPBIPA China, said that interest among the Chinese public in learning the Indonesian language continues to grow in line with the development of economic, educational, and cultural relations between the two countries. Fitriya, Vice Chair of the Indonesian Mandarin Language Educators Association (PPBMI), echoed this sentiment, noting that the development of Mandarin language learning in Indonesia has shown a consistently increasing trend in recent years, reflecting the closer ties between the people of Indonesia and China.
On the same occasion, China’s Education Attaché to Indonesia, Chen Wu, emphasised that educational cooperation is one of the important foundations for strengthening relations between the two countries in the future. “Increased student and lecturer mobility will encourage the emergence of research collaborations, innovation, and higher quality human resource development,” he said.
The forum was also used by each university to introduce their international programmes. A representative from Xiamen University in Fujian Province, Surinah, said the university has four campuses, three in China and one international campus in Malaysia. Xiamen University is known for its strong academic reputation in research and innovation, as well as its extensive international cooperation network with universities around the world.
Meanwhile, a representative from Hefei University of Technology (HFUT), Deasy Natalia, explained that the university, which was established in 1945, excels in engineering and management sciences, supported by modern research and industry collaboration. A representative from Northeast Normal University (NENU), Cui Yan, said the campus, located in Changchun City, Jilin Province, offers relatively affordable tuition and living costs, with strengths in education, teacher training, social sciences, and the humanities.
From Indonesia, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) introduced its academic strengths in pedagogy and teacher education, while Universitas Negeri Surabaya (UNESA) showcased its various educator development programmes and international cooperation networks. Universitas Andalas promoted its research excellence and Minangkabau cultural heritage, and Universitas Ahmad Dahlan presented various technology and innovation-based programmes, including outbound mobility programmes and an international community service programme (KKN) open to foreign students.
The activity was attended by approximately 304 participants, consisting of students, teachers, lecturers, representatives of university international cooperation divisions, and higher education observers.