Indonesian foundation to fund students, school administrators to exchange and study in Tianjin

To help students receive higher-quality education, an Indonesian foundation will fund hundreds of Indonesian students and school administrators to exchange and study in Tianjin over the next five years, according to a recent agreement with Tianjin University.

A.M. Hendropriyono, chairman of Yayasan Warga Bumiputra Indonesia, said, "By funding outstanding students to pursue advanced studies in Tianjin, China, we aim to learn from China's educational experience to enhance the competitiveness of the next generation. The first batch of Indonesian students is expected to enroll next year, and we will gradually expand cooperation to ensure sustained talent development."

On Friday, Garibaldi Thohir, chairman of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Bilateral Committee for China, led a delegation to the university.

They inspected the university's teaching environment, research facilities, and living conditions, discussed key areas such as student exchanges, faculty training, and university-enterprise collaboration with President Chai Liyuan of Tianjin University, and interacted with representatives of Indonesian students currently studying at the university.

Garibaldi Thohir said, "Education is a vital field for deepening friendly relations between China and Indonesia. University cooperation can further solidify our partnership. Through this visit, I observed that Tianjin University excels in educational quality, research facilities, and faculty strength. Students gain knowledge and broaden their horizons here, which can promote cultural and people-to-people exchange between the two nations."

The foundation will fund at least 250 Indonesian students and over 100 school administrators for exchange programs at the university over the next five years. The university will provide relevant educational resources for these participants.

Additionally, both parties will promote joint research and project development between the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry China Committee and Tianjin University.

"China's achievements in technological progress and national development have always been worthy of Indonesia's study. We will focus on industry-academia-research collaboration in fields like new energy, Artificial Intelligence, meteorological science, and the food industry to drive greater outcomes in economic development and industrial advancement for both countries."

In October this year, Chai Liyuan visited Indonesia twice and signed cooperation agreements with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry China Committee. The December meeting aimed to advance scholarship programs further and industry-academia-research collaboration, refining follow-up implementation.

Hendropriyono said, "Through this transnational education cooperation model, we hope to cultivate a new generation of youth with international perspectives, innovative capabilities, and solid academic foundations, helping Indonesia achieve breakthroughs in more fields."

Zang Yifan contributed to this story.