UIN Jakarta and NL Knowledge House Forge Strategic Partnership to Enhance Indonesia-Netherlands Education and Research Collaboration

Jakarta, UIN Online News — Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University Jakarta and NL Knowledge House have formalized a strengthened partnership in education and research between Indonesia and the Netherlands through the official signing of a Letter of Intent (LoI) in Jakarta on Thursday (9/10/2025).

This signing ceremony is a part of the broader Week of Indonesia-Netherlands Education and Research (WINNER) 2025 event, designed to enhance institutional ties between educational entities from both nations.

According to an official statement, the collaboration agreement aims to foster closer cooperation in higher education, research, and innovation, while promoting the increased involvement of students, researchers, and institutions from Indonesia and the Netherlands. The agreement encompasses several key areas, including access to Living Labs, joint event organization, and capacity building through exchanges and workshops.

The LoI was signed by Prof. Asep Saepudin Jahar, M.A., Ph.D., Rector of UIN Jakarta, and Ruard Ganzevoort, Chair of NL Knowledge House. During the signing, Rector Jahar stated that this partnership represents a strategic initiative to support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with particular attention to global challenges such as food security, climate change, and sustainable water management.

“UIN Jakarta will gain direct involvement in Living Labs projects initiated by Dutch institutions, while also expanding our academic and research networks with international partners,” he conveyed.

Prof. Stella Christie, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemendiktisaintek), who attended the event, emphasized the critical importance for Indonesia to continuously strengthen international collaboration in research and education.

“With the establishment of this LoI, I hope more students and researchers will seize opportunities to grow within international collaborations that foster innovation and scientific advancement,” she remarked.

As part of the WINNER program, the signing ceremony was also graced by H.E. David van Weel, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who pointed out the value of deepening bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Netherlands through educational and research sectors.

Within this partnership framework, UIN Jakarta will become an official member of NL Knowledge House, granting access to various programs, including institutional matchmaking, thematic seminars, and joint research projects. Both parties also intend to continue expanding collaborative initiatives across fields such as agriculture, sustainability, and technological innovation.

This event marks a significant milestone in strengthening scientific cooperation between Indonesia and the Netherlands, while simultaneously providing additional opportunities for capacity building and knowledge exchange in the future. Such collaborations serve as vital foundations in addressing increasingly complex global challenges.

(Press Release of the Information & Public Relations Center of UIN Jakarta)