Minister: Canada is a Destination for the 'Sekolah Garuda' Programme

The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) is opening opportunities to strengthen higher education cooperation between Indonesia and Canada, including talent development, student and lecturer mobility, research collaboration, and the expansion of partnerships between universities in both nations.

The Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, stated in a briefing in Jakarta on Thursday that Canada is one of the target destinations for the Garuda School Programme.

“We hope that universities in Canada can support Indonesia through the student admission process, ensuring students can successfully participate in their studies,” said Minister Brian Yuliarto.

The Minister revealed that higher education cooperation between Indonesia and Canada continues to grow. As of September 2025, there are 108 active cooperation agreements between universities in both countries, covering student exchanges, research collaboration, the development of joint academic programmes, and the organisation of scientific seminars.

Ambassador Muhsin added that the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Ottawa, Canada, continues to explore and facilitate various initiatives to strengthen relations between higher education institutions in both countries.

“We will endeavour to encourage concrete outcomes from the relationship between both parties,” said Ambassador Muhsin Syihab.

Discussions include strengthening pre-departure briefings, academic readiness, cultural orientation, and coordination between Kemdiktisaintek and the Indonesian Representative in Canada to support the smooth progress of Indonesian students’ studies.

Furthermore, discussions also addressed efforts to increase scholarship support from both the government and Canadian universities for Indonesian students, as part of the broader effort to expand access to higher education.