Yogyakarta, November 4, 2025 – Universitas AMIKOM Yogyakarta has officially signed (renewed) a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) to strengthen international collaboration in higher education. The signing ceremony took place at the Cinema Building of Universitas AMIKOM Yogyakarta, led by Prof. Dr. M. Suyanto, M.M., Rector of Universitas AMIKOM Yogyakarta, and Dr. Elmer Micu Soriano, Dean of the College of Political Science and Public Administration (CPSPA) at Polytechnic University of the Philippines, witnessed by university executives from both institutions.
This MoU serves as a foundation for long-term cooperation between Universitas AMIKOM Yogyakarta and PUP in developing activities related to education, research, and academic exchange. The agreement encompasses five key areas: joint research collaboration, faculty and student exchange, organization of international conferences and seminars, exchange of learning materials and academic publications, and the development of dual or joint degree programs.
Prof. Dr. M. Suyanto, M.M. stated that international partnerships such as the one with PUP play a crucial role in enhancing student mobility and global competitiveness.
“Collaboration with international universities like PUP is essential for expanding student mobility. The more international partnerships we establish, the greater our opportunity to be among the top 100 universities in the world in this aspect,” he said.
He further highlighted Universitas AMIKOM Yogyakarta’s remarkable achievements in the World University Rankings for Innovation (WURI) 2025, which reflect the university’s visionary leadership and sustainable innovation.
“In 2025, Universitas AMIKOM Yogyakarta ranked 7th globally in Visionary Leadership, 11th globally in Student Engagement, and 10th globally in Funding for Sustainability. By 2030, our goal is for around 70% of the university’s income to come from research and business enterprises, as part of our commitment to long-term sustainability,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Dr. Elmer Soriano affirmed that the agreement also reflects PUP’s strong commitment to fostering international knowledge exchange. “We believe this collaboration will enrich academic perspectives, encourage interdisciplinary research, and strengthen cultural relations between Indonesia and the Philippines,” he said.
Dr. Elmer Soriano further noted that this partnership not only strengthens institutional ties but also opens opportunities to develop future collaborative initiatives such as joint research, faculty exchange, and student mobility programs. “We hope this collaboration will support the development of more globalized higher education while leveraging the potential of both institutions to contribute to the advancement of knowledge and technology,” he added.
In addition to the MoU, both universities also signed two supporting Memorandums of Agreement (MoA) as the implementation framework for the collaboration.
The first document, MoA on Visiting Lecturer and Academic Exchange Program for Faculty, was signed by Dr. Manuel M. Muhi, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Suyanto, M.M., Dr. Elmer M. Soriano, and Dr. Emha Taufiq Luthfi. This agreement regulates a six-day faculty exchange program, limited to a maximum of four lecturers per year from each institution. Both parties agreed to facilitate academic activities, including guest lectures, research, and professional development programs, supported by administrative and logistical assistance as well as access to academic facilities in accordance with each university’s policy.
The second document, MoA on Research Collaboration, was signed between the College of Political Science and Public Administration (CPSPA), PUP, and the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Universitas AMIKOM Yogyakarta. This agreement focuses on joint research projects, collaborative academic publications, external supervision and research evaluation, journal management, and academic conference organization. Through this partnership, both faculties are committed to producing applied research that contributes to the advancement of knowledge and public policy practices.
All collaborative activities will be governed by written agreements between authorized representatives of both universities. Outcomes such as publications and research innovations will follow the intellectual property rights policies of each institution, with both parties maintaining confidentiality of data and information throughout the partnership.
In the near future, both universities have also committed to conducting community service activities and disaster resilience, as reflected in the workshop titled “Strengthening Community Resilience Through Disaster Mitigation Education” held at Tanjung Tourism Village, Sleman.
The event also featured public lectures by PUP faculty members, including Dr. Estefanie R. Cortez who presented Political Economy, and Dr. Pamela Grace C. Muhi with the topic Public Administration. In addition, Dr. Alexander P. Gonzales and Jean Paul G. Martirez delivered guest lectures and research benchmarking sessions with the academic community of Universitas AMIKOM Yogyakarta.
The signing of this MoU and the two MoAs is expected to lay a strong foundation for sustainable academic collaboration, broaden opportunities for faculty and students to engage in international research, and strengthen the role of Universitas AMIKOM Yogyakarta as a globally oriented university actively building strategic partnerships across Southeast Asia.
Fadya RY – Directorate of Public Relations and International Affairs
Collaborators: Rumini, Yohannes Santoso, Florentina L. Penaten
