UI and HKU Agree to Optimise International Research and Education
Universitas Indonesia (UI) and The University of Hong Kong (HKU) have agreed to partner and are ready to optimise international research and education. “We believe that the partnership between UI and HKU has great potential to develop into a strategic collaboration with global impact, considering that UI also has strengths in multidisciplinary research development, continuously growing international networks, and commitment to driving innovation and relevant scholarly contributions to society,” said UI Rector Prof. Heri Hermansyah in his statement on Monday. He stated that with the research strengths and academic reputation possessed by HKU, we see great potential to build cooperation that not only expands access to international education but also produces joint innovations and publications that contribute to addressing various global challenges. The UI Rector conducted a visit to HKU as a concrete step in exploring strategic partnerships with one of the world’s top universities, particularly in developing postgraduate education programmes and cross-disciplinary collaborative research. As a global partner, HKU has a strong track record in research and education. In 2025, 54 of its academics were selected as Clarivate Highly Cited Researchers—the highest in Hong Kong and ranked 13th in the world. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, HKU holds the 11th position globally with flagship subjects such as Dentistry (1st in the world), Architecture (12th), and Biological Sciences (44th). This performance is bolstered by the largest research funding achievement from the Research Grants Council (RGC) for 2025/2026 with 269 projects worth HK$249 million, as well as more than 400 academics listed in Stanford’s Top 2 per cent Scientists 2025. HKU Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor Richard Wong said that UI is a strategic partner in Southeast Asia with very strong collaboration potential. “We see a shared vision in developing research and postgraduate education. HKU is committed to supporting cooperation that drives innovation, academic mobility, and real contributions to global society,” he stated. This scheme is designed to provide cross-country academic experiences for students, while strengthening the research ecosystem through joint supervision and encouraging increased joint publications in reputable international journals. Both parties will also explore strengthening interdisciplinary research collaborations, particularly in flagship fields such as law, social sciences, public policy, health, as well as technology and engineering. This initiative is expected to produce research-based solutions to various global challenges, and can increase the academic visibility of both institutions on the international stage. The programme also opens opportunities for knowledge exchange, joint curriculum development, and collaboration in teaching based on global best practices. Through this partnership exploration, UI is optimistic about strengthening its strategic position in the global academic network, while expanding its contributions to the development of science, innovation, and research-based solutions to address global challenges.