Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES) welcomed a delegation from Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg, Germany, on Wednesday (07/16/25), to strengthen academic cooperation through the Global Teacher Education Plus (Go-TEd+) program. This visit marks a significant step in UNNES’s efforts to expand its international network in teacher education.
The delegation was officially received at the UNNES Rectorate Building by the Vice Rector for Planning, General Affairs, Human Resources, and Finance, Prof. Heri Yanto, MBA, PhD. In his address, Prof. Heri emphasized that the collaboration aligns with UNNES’s strategic vision as a world-class university and a pioneer of excellence in conservation-minded education.
“We are optimistic that this collaboration will open up opportunities for student exchange programs and support UNNES’s vision of becoming an internationally reputable university. This is a promising first step,” said Prof. Heri Yanto.
The Würzburg delegation included Prof. Dr. Hans-Stefan Siller, Director of the Professional School of Education and Chair of Mathematics Education, as well as Dr. Matthias Erhardt, Managing Director of the same institution. During the visit, they introduced the Go-TEd+ program, which is funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for the period 2025-2029. The program involves twelve universities from twelve countries, with UNNES as the sole partner from Indonesia.
Following the welcoming session, the agenda continued with a meeting involving vice deans from various UNNES faculties. This meeting aimed to explore broader collaboration opportunities between UNNES and Universität Würzburg, particularly in developing cross-disciplinary academic programs, joint research, and student and faculty exchanges. The vice deans welcomed the opportunity with enthusiasm and proposed several collaborative initiatives that could be implemented through the Go-TEd+ consortium.
Dr. Adi Nur Cahyono, Go-TEd+ program coordinator at UNNES, explained that the partnership originated from his personal academic collaboration with Prof. Siller in the field of mathematics education, which later evolved into an institutional partnership between the two universities.
“Through Go-TEd+, we plan not only to conduct student and faculty exchanges but also to develop joint academic programs, collaborative research, co-publications, and explore double degree programs between UNNES and Universität Würzburg,” he explained.
He further stated that UNNES’s involvement in the Go-TEd+ consortium opens avenues for international funding and increases academic mobility among the twelve member countries.
“UNNES is projected to serve as the leading Go-TEd+ network representative in Indonesia, strengthening the institution’s role in global academic collaboration,” he added.
In a separate interview, Prof. Siller and Dr. Erhardt expressed their positive impressions of UNNES and Indonesia. They praised UNNES’s commitment to sustainability, the green campus environment, and the hospitality of the academic community.
“We are very pleased to have UNNES as part of the Go-TEd+ consortium. The collaboration in mathematics education is already strong, and we see great potential to expand it to other areas,” said Prof. Siller.
During their stay in Indonesia, the delegation participated in several key activities, including meetings with leaders of various universities, international faculty coordinators, and stakeholders in teacher education. They are also scheduled to meet with the Directorate of Learning and Student Affairs (BELMAWA) at the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology in Jakarta, as well as visit several secondary schools and the Department of Education in Semarang.
This visit reflects UNNES’s ongoing commitment to advancing academic cooperation, enhancing the quality of teacher education, and strengthening its position in higher education through impactful international partnerships.
