Undip targets five international students per study programme to boost world ranking

Semarang (ANTARA) - Universitas Diponegoro in Semarang is targeting at least five foreign students in each of its study programmes in order to cement its status as a world-class university.

“We hope that later every study programme will have at least five (foreign students),” said the Rector of Undip, Prof Suharnomo, following a Workshop on Strategies to Accelerate Universitas Diponegoro into the World’s Top 500, in Semarang on Tuesday.

According to him, foreign students studying at a university are indeed one of the factors that play a significant role in improving a higher education institution’s ranking.

“We can only accept 40 (foreign students), and those on-going are around 80 students. Those currently studying total around 200 students,” he said, accompanied by the Chair of the Undip Board of Trustees (MWA), Prof M. Nasir.

The foreign students studying at Undip have various education financing schemes, including scholarships from institutions as well as government scholarships.

“We hope next year the quota for foreign students can double, because this is also part of our internationalisation efforts,” said the professor from Undip’s Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB).

Undip even plans to establish a special class for foreign students at the Faculty of Medicine.

“A truly international undergraduate programme. Those who have approached us include some from Malaysia, with the largest number from China. These are the ones that have already made enquiries,” he said.

Regarding rankings, he is targeting for Undip to enter the world’s top 500, whereas it currently sits in the world’s top 600, partly through such initiatives.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Malaysia Qualification Agency, Prof Dato’ Serl Ir. Dr. Zaini Ujang, who was brought in as a speaker, offered a number of suggestions.

“Academic productivity needs to be clearer, so that lecturers know exactly what needs to be given priority,” said the Pro Chancellor of Malaysia’s Management and Science University (MSU).

According to him, this step needs to be taken by all lecturers, not just certain ones, so that it becomes a deeply rooted academic culture.

“That is what we were discussing earlier — the academic culture we want to build. Not for numbers, not for rankings, QS rankings and so on. If the academic culture is solid, anything can be achieved,” he said.