UKDW Strengthens International Network through Partnership Visit to Timor-Leste
Dr.-Ing. Wiyatiningsih, S.T., M.T., Rector of Universitas Kristen Duta Wacana (UKDW), led a partnership visit to Timor-Leste from March 15 to 17, 2026. She was accompanied by Vice Rector for Human Resource Development, Promotion, and Networking, Rev. Wahju Satria Wibowo, Ph.D.; Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology, Restyandito, Ph.D.; and Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Alumni at the Faculty of Business, Lucia Nurbani Kartika, S.Pd., Dipl. Secr., M.M.
The visit aimed to strengthen UKDW’s international network while exploring opportunities for collaboration in higher education with institutions across Timor-Leste.
During the visit, the UKDW delegation met with Timor-Leste’s Minister of Higher Education and Culture, Dr. Jose N. da Costa Pereira Geronimo. The meeting was also attended by the Ministry’s Chief of Staff, the Director General of Higher Education, and several senior officials. The Rector shared updates on the university’s development and outlined potential areas of collaboration, particularly in human resource development and information systems. She also highlighted opportunities for students from Timor-Leste to pursue undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral studies at UKDW.
The Minister welcomed the proposed partnership and instructed the Chief of Staff to follow up by initiating the necessary administrative processes.
The delegation also met with Timor-Leste’s Special Envoy for Climate Change, Dr. Adao Soares Barbosa, where discussions focused on potential collaboration in addressing climate change through education, research, and capacity-building initiatives.
To further expand its academic network, the UKDW team visited several universities in Dili, including Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e, Universidade Catolica Timorense Sao Joao Paulo II, Universidade Dili, and Instituto Filosofia e Teologia Dom Jaime Garcia Goulart. Notably, Universidade Dili was previously led by a UKDW alumnus from the Faculty of Theology. Leaders of these institutions expressed strong interest in developing partnerships with UKDW.
Across these engagements, both sides explored a range of potential academic collaborations, including student exchanges, joint research and publications, international community service programs (KKN), collaborative research projects, joint online courses, and human resource development initiatives.
Through these efforts, UKDW aims to formalize partnerships in the near future, broaden its international engagement, and contribute to the advancement of higher education across Southeast Asia.
W-ID: wws | Ed. (ENG): drr
