UPNVJ Public Relations – Pattani, Southern Thailand. Veteran National Development University Jakarta (UPNVJ) introduced the concept of "Impactful National Defense" as part of a series of efforts to strengthen cooperation in higher education between Indonesia and Thailand through participation in the Indonesia Education Fair and INSPIRE Forum 2026 in Pattani, Southern Thailand, on Tuesday (September 1, 2026). The forum serves as a strategic space for universities in both countries to expand academic collaboration, research, innovation, and human resource development.
The Indonesia Education Fair and INSPIRE Forum 2026 took place from September 1–3, 2026, at Prince of Songkla University (PSU), Pattani Campus, and CS Pattani Hotel. The first day of activities focused on the INSPIRE Forum, with the theme of strengthening cooperation in higher education between Indonesia and Thailand.
The forum began with remarks by the Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Songkhla, Winardi Hanafi Lucky, and an opening by the Governor of Pattani Province, Patimoh Sadeeyamu. The main session discussed the theme "An Overview of Higher Education Cooperation between Indonesia and Thailand" which was presented by the Education Attaché of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Bangkok, Cyti Daniela Aruan, and Vice President for Academic and International Affairs, Prince of Songkla University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thakerng Wongsirichot.
The forum explained that educational relations between Indonesia and Thailand have developed through various forms of collaboration. Currently, 795 Indonesian students are studying full-time in Thailand, and 42 Indonesian academics are active as lecturers in Thailand. These Indonesian students come from various educational levels, from undergraduate to master's degrees to doctoral degrees.
In addition to full-time students, 360 Indonesian students are registered for the exchange program. Indonesian students' fields of study in Thailand include social sciences, science and technology, health, agriculture, and other fields. Prince of Songkla University is also one of Thailand's universities with the largest number of Indonesian students.
The forum material highlighted that Indonesia-Thailand educational cooperation has been running through various programs, such as Indonesian for Foreign Speakers (BIPA), student exchanges, lecturer mobility, joint lectures, cultural activities, scholarship programs, inter-campus cooperation, and promotion of Indonesian education.
However, there is still ample scope for development, particularly in the areas of joint research, joint scientific publications, academic credit transfer, dual or joint degree programs, professional development, vocational collaboration, and internship programs.
UPNVJ Rector Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, MA., Comm., believes that strengthening higher education cooperation must be directed toward collaboration that has a real impact on society. He believes that internationalizing higher education is not only about building global networks but also about bringing values, knowledge, and academic contributions to the international level.
According to Venus, the value of National Defense can be realized through scientific-based contributions. Universities play a crucial role in providing solutions through education, research, innovation, and community service.
This concept aligns with UPNVJ's character as a National Defense Campus that continues to develop a non-military National Defense approach through various fields, ranging from education, research, digital transformation, entrepreneurship, public health, to community empowerment.
The forum also highlighted the significant opportunities for strengthening academic ties between the two countries. The presentation, "Indonesia-Thailand Cooperation: From MoU to Concrete Programs," stated that future collaboration could be directed at increasing student and faculty mobility, collaborative research, joint publications, joint degree programs, and the establishment of research networks.
Prince of Songkla University, as the forum host, has an extensive network of collaborations with Indonesian universities. The forum's materials noted that PSU has 98 active bilateral memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Indonesian universities, including the University of Indonesia, Gadjah Mada University, Bandung Institute of Technology, Airlangga University, IPB University, the University of North Sumatra, Syiah Kuala University, the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, and Padjadjaran University.
In terms of human resource development, the two countries have complementary potential. Indonesia boasts a large population of higher education age, while Thailand boasts educational infrastructure, research laboratories, and English-language academic programs that support internationalization.
The first day of the INSPIRE Forum continued with a Networking and Partnership Matching session that brought together Indonesian and Thai universities to explore opportunities for academic collaboration, partner matching, and collaborative program development.
For Venus, strengthening international collaboration is part of UPNVJ's strategy to provide higher education that adapts to global change. Through the "Impactful National Defense" approach, UPNVJ aims to ensure that national values are realized through contributions to science, innovation, and cross-border collaboration.