S

ingapore Management University (SMU) has opened an International Advisory Council in Indonesia to strengthen SMU’s collaboration with the Indonesian government, academics and business communities.

SMU president Prof. Arnoud De Meyer said during the launch of the council that SMU had close relations with Indonesia, because many Indonesian students were studying at the university, which has around 1,200 Indonesian alumni.

The SMU International Advisory Council would serve as a bridge for collaboration between SMU and the Indonesian people, he added.

“In the future, SMU hopes to see more collaboration with businesses, the government and civil society between the two countries. We want to strengthen our collaboration with Indonesian universities in research and postgraduate education and foster more industry tie-ups with the private sector,” Meyer said on Monday.

SMU has been collaborating with Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta since 2016 through research, a workshop and a student exchange program.

Meanwhile, Indonesian business tycoon Tahir, chairman of Mayapada Group, who chairs the SMU International Advisory Council in Indonesia, said the presence of the advisory council in Indonesia would amplify SMU’s Indonesian alumni networking to develop Indonesia.

Tahir said he had contributed Rp 10 billion (US$714,000) in funds to establish collaboration between SMU and UGM through researches and workshops as well as the exchange of professors and students between the two universities.