International Research Collaboration: UNUJA Visits the National University of Singapore

Saturday, September 14, 2024, marked a historic day for Nurul Jadid University (UNUJA) as the postgraduate delegation arrived at The National University of Singapore (NUS) campus at 2:30 PM Singapore time. With 61 participants, this visit is part of an international collaboration program designed to broaden the academic horizons of UNUJA postgraduate students through direct interaction with leading universities in Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Singapore. The program, which runs from September 13 to 17, 2024, aims to strengthen research collaboration and educational development between institutions.

Upon arriving at the NUS campus, the UNUJA delegation was warmly welcomed by the hosts. NUS, as one of the leading universities in the world, offers an innovative academic atmosphere and modern facilities. The visiting participants were taken on a tour of the campus to observe academic life at NUS, including observing student activities and visiting the Central Library. This library, managed by Dr. Idris Rashid Khan Surattee, Head Librarian of NUS, is renowned as a knowledge center supporting advanced research. With its extensive literature collection and state-of-the-art facilities, the Central Library provides a clear picture of the world-class higher education standards that NUS possesses.

After the campus tour, the main event began with a formal meeting between UNUJA and NUS. During this meeting, the UNUJA delegation was received by several leaders from NUS, including: 1) Prof. Noor Aisha Abdul Rahman, MA., Ph.D, Head of the Malay Studies Department, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS, 2) Dr. Idris Rashid Khan Surattee, Head Librarian of Central Library, NUS, 3) Dr. Mohamed Imran, NUS lecturer and Executive Director of the Singapore Dialogue Centre, and 4) Nur Diyana Abdul Kadeer, Research Librarian at NUS.

In their welcome speeches, the NUS leaders expressed their deep appreciation for UNUJA's visit. They viewed this visit as a positive step towards strengthening cross-country academic relations. NUS also opened up extensive opportunities for research collaboration, student and faculty exchanges, and cooperation in scientific writing. The warm and enthusiastic reception from NUS leaders demonstrated a strong commitment to building an international academic network, particularly with UNUJA in Indonesia.

Dr. H. Akmal Mundiri, M.Pd., Director of Postgraduate Studies at UNUJA, represented UNUJA in delivering his remarks. He emphasized the importance of this opportunity as a valuable moment to broaden the academic horizons of UNUJA's students and faculty. Dr. Akmal also hoped that collaboration with NUS would continue, particularly in terms of research and joint article writing. "We are very grateful for the warm welcome from NUS. This visit has provided us with many lessons, especially in strengthening research and fostering international academic collaboration. This experience will be an important asset for UNUJA's students and faculty to continue enhancing research quality to an international level," said Dr. Akmal.

One of the significant moments during this visit was the research presentations by several UNUJA postgraduate students. They presented their research findings in three languages: Indonesian, Arabic, and English, covering various disciplines. The presentations received positive feedback from NUS academics.

Figures such as Prof. Noor Aisha Abdul Rahman and Dr. Mohamed Imran provided constructive feedback to improve and deepen the presented research. NUS also offered various supports, including: a) Access to Nusantara manuscripts and other scientific resources for UNUJA researchers, b) Opportunities for collaborative visiting lectures between UNUJA and NUS faculty, c) Research collaboration in the fields of philology and social sciences, and d) The potential signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNUJA and the Singapore Dialogue Centre.

This feedback is crucial in enhancing the quality of UNUJA students' research, with the hope that their research can meet international publication standards. The guidance provided opens pathways for students to improve their research methodologies, strengthen analyses, and prepare their research to be more competitive on the international stage.

This visit not only served as a moment for UNUJA postgraduate students to expand their academic horizons but also opened the door for greater cooperation opportunities between UNUJA and NUS. By interacting directly with faculty, researchers, and librarians at NUS, UNUJA students and faculty gained valuable insights into international research standards, effective management of academic resources, and innovations in higher education.

In addition to knowledge exchange, this visit also opens up future collaboration opportunities, including student and faculty exchanges, collaborative research, and joint article writing. NUS also expressed their willingness to continue collaboration with UNUJA, particularly in developing research relevant to global challenges in the modern era.

With the conclusion of this visit, UNUJA and NUS have successfully laid a strong foundation for long-term academic collaboration. This will not only strengthen UNUJA's academic capacity but also bring this university closer to the international education stage.

This visit is expected to be the first step in enhancing the quality of education at UNUJA, positioning this university as a higher education center capable of competing on the international stage and ready to contribute to the global academic world.