By Dr Dilah Tuah (Dean of FELC)
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), through its Faculty of Education, Language and Communication (FPBK), took part in the Malaysian Education Deans’ Council (MEDC) Benchmarking Visit and Strategic Meeting 2025 held in Jakarta and Bandung, Indonesia, from 27th to 30th October 2025. The visit, led by Associate Professor Dr. Wan Marzuki Wan Jaafar, Chair of MEDC and Dean of the Faculty of Educational Studies at Universiti Putra Malaysia, brought together deans and representatives from Malaysia’s public universities including Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UMS), Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) and Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). It aimed to foster stronger cross-border academic collaboration, exchange innovative teaching practices, and explore strategic opportunities to advance higher education cooperation within the Southeast Asian region.
The four-day working visit began with an official meeting at Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), where the delegation was warmly received by the university’s senior leadership. Discussions revolved around strengthening academic and research collaboration through joint publications, postgraduate supervision, academic forums, and staff and student exchange programmes. Both parties expressed their shared commitment nurturing an educational partnership that promotes mutual growth, academic excellence, and cultural understanding between Malaysia and Indonesia. The meeting also explored the potential appointment of adjunct professors among partner institutions, reflecting the growing recognition of shared academic expertise in the region.
The following day, the delegation visited UNESCO Jakarta, the Multisectoral Regional Office for Southeast Asia, which has long championed the integration of education, science, and culture across ASEAN member states. During the session, UNESCO representatives highlighted the organisation’s priorities in promoting inclusive and sustainable education under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnership for the Goals). The dialogue provided a platform to discuss collaboration in teacher capacity building, social innovation, and education for sustainability—areas that align closely with UNIMAS’s vision to empower local and regional communities through knowledge, research, and cultural engagement. The meeting also opened possibilities for UNIMAS to serve as an academic partner in implementing UNESCO-led initiatives across Borneo and the wider Southeast Asian region.
Another important engagement took place at Jakarta Business School (JBS), where the delegation was received by Tan Sri Professor Dato’ Dr. Nordin Kardi, President of JBS. The meeting focused on academic leadership, entrepreneurship, and the integration of digital innovation in education. JBS, known for its industry-driven and globally oriented programmes, shared its insights on developing future-ready graduates with entrepreneurial mindsets. The dialogue explored the feasibility of launching offshore academic programmes by Malaysian universities, including UNIMAS in Jakarta, particularly in the fields of education, communication, and entrepreneurship. Through such initiatives, UNIMAS envisions enriching its academic ecosystem with innovative learning models and strengthening its international profile as a progressive university that combines education, creativity, and enterprise.
The final leg of the benchmarking visit took place at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) in Bandung, where the delegation was welcomed by the Faculty of Educational Sciences. Both universities reaffirmed their shared aspiration to enhance teacher education, counselling, and curriculum innovation through joint research, academic mobility, and training programmes. The engagement underscored a collective commitment to the global education agenda and to advancing sustainable professional development for educators across the region. The discussions at UPI reflected a deep sense of collaboration and mutual respect, highlighting the value of partnership between Malaysian and Indonesian universities in shaping inclusive, high-quality education systems.
For UNIMAS, the benchmarking visit proved to be both meaningful and strategic. According to Dr. Dilah Tuah, Dean of FELC UNIMAS, the experience reinforced the university’s mission to build impactful international networks and strengthen its regional presence. “This visit is not merely about establishing partnerships but it is about sharing ideas, building trust, and cultivating innovation across borders. It reflects UNIMAS’s commitment to serve as a knowledge hub that integrates education, culture, and sustainability,” he remarked. The visit has opened new opportunities for collaborative research, academic exchanges, offshore programmes, and partnership with international organisations such as UNESCO, positioning UNIMAS as a regional leader in knowledge exchange and educational development.
Overall, the MEDC 2025 Benchmarking Visit to Jakarta and Bandung successfully enhanced regional cooperation between Malaysian and Indonesian universities, while advancing Malaysia’s role in promoting higher education diplomacy in Southeast Asia. The visit also confirmed UNIMAS’s reputation as an institution that actively bridges academic collaboration, cultural understanding, and social innovation. Through its continuous engagement with universities such as UNJ, JBS, and UPI, UNIMAS continues to expand its global footprint and reaffirm its dedication to educational excellence, sustainability, and human capital development in the region.