UPN Veteran Jakarta continues to expand the university's international cooperation with other universities overseas. Several efforts have been made including to invite prominent Ambassadors in Jakarta to address a public lecture at the university. The institutional relation with the embassy is deemed to contribute positively by introducing about UPN Veteran Jakarta and to obtain more potential foreign university partners.
On Nov 21 2019, UPN Veteran Jakarta had a great honor to welcome Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, HE Oudia Benabdellah who was willing to address a lecture entitled "Indonesia-Morocco: the New Era." In historical perspective, Morocco and Indonesia have built strong ties since the early independence. In fact, there is an avenue in Rabat called Soekarno Rue in order to commemorate the friendship between two Nations.
Erna Hernawati, Rector of UPN Veteran Jakarta, expressed her appreciation for the Ambassador's visit and requested the Embassy's support to build up relations with Moroccan well-known universities. According to UniRank, several universities are considered as the top 5, including Université Mohammed V in Rabat, Université Cadi Ayyad in Marrakech, Université Ibn Zohr in Agadir, Université Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah in Fez and Université Al Akhawayn in Ifrane.
Ambassador Oudia said several Indonesian universities had already connected with Moroccon campuses. They have run several collaborative programs including in education exchanges. “The Embassy will facilitate the communication between UPN Veteran Jakarta and Moroccan universities,” said the Ambassador.
Meanwhile, hundreds of students and lecturers of UPN Veteran Jakarta attended the Ambassador Lecture Series which was hosted by the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, FISIP UPN Veteran Jakarta. Ambassador Oudia presented a comprehensive picture of Morocco's geo-economics, to ensure that business and economic relations between two Countries should be much greater. "We are working to realize the Preferential Trading Agreement (PTA) between Morocco and Indonesia," added the Ambassador.
The public lecture was moderated by Andi Kurniawan, one of International Relations scholars at UPN Veteran Jakarta. Andi told the public lectures that it would be a precious opportunity for students and lecturers to learn directly from high-rank diplomats about international cooperation, foreign policy and African studies. Furthermore, 'we are trying to encourage people-to-people contact in education in parallel with our government's efforts to enhance Indonesia's relations with African countries, Andi unveiled.
The Ambassador Lecture Series has been organized by the UPN Veteran Jakarta FPCI Chapter which has been very active in promoting international relations student programs.
