Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Strengthens Technological Collaboration with Republic of Cyprus
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) is strengthening international collaboration in higher education, science, and technology through a partnership with the Republic of Cyprus.
In a meeting between the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Wamendiktisaintek) Stella Christie and the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Indonesia, Nikos Panayiotou, at the Kemdiktisaintek office in Jakarta on Wednesday (1/4), several points in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) were outlined to facilitate collaboration between Indonesian higher education institutions and those in the Republic of Cyprus.
Wamendiktisaintek Stella, in a statement in Jakarta on Thursday, emphasised that the MoU could serve as a general framework, allowing higher education institutions to collaborate directly without needing to create new MoUs at the institutional level.
“The aim is for higher education institutions in Indonesia not to be too preoccupied with pursuing MoUs, as this takes time and diverts focus from substantive collaboration. I want us to have an MoU so that higher education institutions can use it as a basis for cooperation,” said Wamendiktisaintek Stella Christie.
“Cyprus and Indonesia have many similarities, particularly in the maritime sector, thus offering great potential. Research on maritime issues is still not extensive. One interesting area is carbon capture,” stated Wamendiktisaintek Stella.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Nikos emphasised that several higher education institutions in the Republic of Cyprus offer various scholarships for Indonesian students at undergraduate and master’s levels, as well as opportunities for development to doctoral levels. Collaboration in academic mobility offers many benefits for both countries.
He explained that one of the main opportunities for research collaboration is through European Union programmes, such as the Horizon Europe programme.
“Advanced-level academic mobility plays an important role in building networks, professional relationships, and opening up opportunities for long-term research collaboration, including those that can be conducted remotely in the future,” said Nikos Panayiotou.
It is known that in the meeting, both parties also discussed focus areas for collaboration in several priority sectors, namely maritime and the blue economy, as well as tourism.
This meeting serves as an initial step in strengthening relations between Indonesia and the Republic of Cyprus in the fields of higher education, science, and technology. As a follow-up, the Republic of Cyprus plans to send a delegation from the technology and innovation sector to Indonesia at the end of June 2026 to expand cooperation networks with higher education institutions and related stakeholders.