UI and RMIT University Forge Cotutelle Research Partnership for Doctoral Students
Universitas Indonesia (UI) has expanded its international collaboration pathways for doctoral students through a cotutelle research partnership with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University in Melbourne, Australia. The signing of the cooperation agreement was represented by UI’s Vice-Rector for Planning, Finance, and Resources, Ahmad Gamal, and RMIT’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Training, and Development, Simon Pervan, and witnessed by UI Rector Heri Hermansyah.
Through the cotutelle scheme, UI doctoral students can conduct research under the guidance of both UI lecturers and RMIT academics. This scheme provides access to the expertise, research facilities, and academic networks of both institutions.
“The cotutelle cooperation with RMIT University strengthens UI’s efforts to expand international research collaboration. This scheme gives doctoral students the opportunity to gain broader research experience and produce research that is relevant to the advancement of science,” said Heri.
The partnership also reinforces the existing research relationship between UI and RMIT. In 2025, researchers from both institutions produced eight high-impact scientific articles, while in 2024, thirteen high-impact articles were recorded from joint research.
UI selected RMIT University as a partner because it is a world-leading university ranked 119th globally according to the QS World University Rankings 2027. RMIT also ranks first in Australia in the fields of Architecture/Built Environment, Art & Design, and Library & Information Management based on the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026. Currently, RMIT hosts more than 1,000 Indonesian students.
RMIT Vice-Chancellor Alec Cameron welcomed the collaboration and encouraged the development of broader partnerships, including joint degree and double degree programmes at the master’s and bachelor’s levels, as well as increased student and academic staff exchanges between the two universities.
As a follow-up, UI will invite two professors from RMIT to teach at UI for one week. This activity aims to strengthen academic ties between UI and RMIT professors, develop joint research, and involve postgraduate students in collaborative research.
This cotutelle agreement is part of UI’s strategy to enhance the quality of doctoral education and expand Indonesia’s research contributions at the international level. Through this partnership, UI also strengthens its global academic network to support researcher capacity building, knowledge exchange, and the improvement of scientific publication quality.