UPNVJ Public Relations – Pattani, Southern Thailand. Veteran National Development University Jakarta (UPNVJ) strengthened international education diplomacy through a meeting with Sub. Lieutenant Sombat Singkarn, Deputy Governor of Pattani Province, as part of the Indonesia Education Fair and INSPIRE Forum 2026, held at the CS Pattani Hotel in Southern Thailand on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
The meeting was part of the agenda for the first day of the INSPIRE Forum 2026, which brought together local governments, universities, and educational institutions from Indonesia and Thailand to build collaboration in higher education, research, innovation, and human resource development.
UPNVJ Rector Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, MA., Comm., along with the UPNVJ delegation, discussed with the Pattani Provincial Government the opportunities to strengthen academic relations that can provide direct benefits to the community through education, research, and community service.
Venus said that the internationalization of higher education must be directed at collaborations that produce real impact, not just formal relationships between institutions.
"International collaboration is not just about building relationships between institutions, but also about how academic knowledge and competency can benefit society. Universities have a role as bridges between communities through education, research, innovation, and community service," said Venus.
On this occasion, UPNVJ also introduced its identity as a National Defense Campus that develops National Defense values in a modern context through academic, social, and humanitarian contributions.
According to Venus, the current concept of National Defense is not only related to national defense, but is also realized through the ability of the academic community to provide contributions based on knowledge and expertise.
"The impact of national defense is how academics use their competencies to deliver benefits, build collaborations, and provide solutions to various societal challenges," he explained.
The meeting with the Pattani Provincial Government marks a strategic opportunity to strengthen educational ties between Indonesia and Thailand. The INSPIRE Forum 2026 serves as a platform for exchanging ideas, bringing together various stakeholders from both countries, including representatives from governments, universities, and educational institutions.
The forum also presented developments in Indonesia-Thailand educational relations, including student and academic mobility. Currently, 795 Indonesian students are studying full-time in Thailand, and 42 Indonesian academics are working as lecturers at various Thai universities.
Educational collaboration between the two countries has developed in various forms, ranging from student exchanges, academic mobility, joint lectures, the Indonesian Language for Foreign Speakers (BIPA) program, to institutional cooperation between universities.
UPNVJ views the Indonesia-Thailand educational relationship as a strategic opportunity to expand its regional academic network. By strengthening international cooperation, the university is committed to improving the quality of education, providing global experiences for students, and showcasing the contributions of Indonesian higher education institutions in Southeast Asia.
For Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, MA., Comm., internationalization must remain grounded in the value of utility. Higher education should not only be a space for knowledge exchange but also a means of building community-to-community relationships and providing shared solutions for Indonesia and Thailand.