Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) continues to expand its international academic network through the signing of a cooperation agreement with Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), Philippines.
The agreement was formalized on October 2, 2025, at the Gymnasium of the College of Education, MSU-IIT, as part of the 11th ASEAN Council of Physical Education and Sports (ACPES) International Conference 2025. The event brought together 16 universities from the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, India, and Indonesia.
Representing UNNES, Dr. Donny Wira Yudha Kusuma, Vice Dean for Academic Affairs of the Faculty of Sports Sciences, and Prof. Alizedney M. Ditucalan, JD, LLM, President of MSU-IIT, signed the agreement. The scope of collaboration includes joint research, faculty and student exchange programs, and the implementation of visiting lectures between the two institutions.
According to Dr. Kusuma, this collaboration is expected to strengthen research capacity, broaden access to knowledge, and foster academic mobility across countries.
“We hope this partnership will open pathways for joint research initiatives and provide broader international exposure for both UNNES faculty members and students,” he remarked.
This strategic initiative directly addresses the need to enhance international research networks, a challenge often faced by higher education institutions in Indonesia. Through the partnership with MSU-IIT, UNNES aims to expand avenues for knowledge exchange, increase productivity in research and international publications, and strengthen academic development in the field of Physical Education and Sports Science within the ASEAN region.
The collaboration aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in advancing access to quality education (SDG 4), promoting equal academic opportunities (SDG 10), and fostering global partnerships in research and innovation (SDG 17). Faculty and student exchanges under this program are expected to deliver tangible outcomes in human resource development and equitable access to international academic experiences.
Sustainability of the partnership will be ensured through long-term initiatives, including cross-border collaborative research, regular academic mobility programs, and international guest lectures. In the long run, the collaboration is anticipated to enhance graduate competitiveness, elevate the global academic recognition of UNNES, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of knowledge in the ASEAN region.
