Indonesia and France Agree to Strengthen Cooperation in Higher Education, Science, and Technology
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia and France have agreed to deepen long-term collaboration in higher education, science, and technology, focusing on innovation, university partnerships, and expanded mobility for students and researchers.
The agreement follows a meeting on Monday between Indonesia’s Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, and French Ambassador to Indonesia, Timor-Leste, and ASEAN, Fabien Penone, in Jakarta. The discussions reaffirmed the two nations’ commitment to enhancing strategic cooperation between their academic and research institutions, according to the Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology.
Minister Brian Yuliarto stated, “We hope this initiative will further strengthen cooperation between universities in both countries, while opening broader opportunities for grants and collaboration.”
The talks highlighted the Indonesia-France Year of Innovation, a flagship bilateral initiative covering higher education, research, innovation, and academic exchanges, endorsed by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and French President Emmanuel Macron. The initiative will feature academic activities and the development of long-term strategies and a joint roadmap to guide bilateral cooperation in science, technology, and innovation.
France pledged support to bring leading French universities to Indonesia and to expand scholarship and student mobility programs in collaboration with Indonesia’s Endowment Fund for Education Agency (LPDP). Donatienne Hissard, Director-General of Campus France, noted that approximately 1,000 Indonesian students are currently studying in France, with plans to increase this number through expanded cooperation programs.
Ambassador Penone further announced that France has decided to extend its successful joint LPDP master’s scholarship program to the doctoral level, citing strong demand and positive outcomes. He added that the number of Indonesian students studying in France has doubled within a year due to the LPDP-France program, an expansion of Indonesia’s general LPDP scholarship scheme.
Interest among French students in Indonesian universities is also on the rise, with both countries exploring joint degree and double degree programs to deepen academic collaboration.
