On 12th September 2023, the distinguished leadership of Universitas Islam Negeri Maulana Malik Ibrahim Malang (UIN-Malang), led by Prof. Umi Sumbulah, Vice Rector, and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT), led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chawin Chantharasenawong, Vice President for Internationalization, united in a historic moment as they elevated their longstanding partnership to the university level. Originating in 2015 at the faculty level, the collaboration has since blossomed into a multifaceted educational alliance. Notable achievements include a 2023 internship program where over 20 UIN-Malang students gained invaluable experience at KMUTT’s School of Bioresource and Technology (SBT), reciprocated by SBT staff’s forthcoming guest lectures at UIN-Malang in October 2023.
Furthermore, during discussions held on last 12th July 2023, both institutions identified promising areas for collaboration. These encompass a Chemistry credit transfer program, semester exchanges, Mathematics and Microbiology internships scheduled for mid-June to mid-August 2024, senior projects with creditable earning, a 12-credit exchange program under UIN-Malang’s grant, and thesis projects tailored for master’s students. The signing of the university-level academic agreement underscores their unwavering commitment to fostering academic excellence and cross-cultural learning. This milestone paves the way for even more profound cooperation between Indonesia and Thailand in the realm of higher education.