The University of Debrecen (UD) has signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Pattimura in Indonesia. The partnership will enable student exchanges, faculty mobility, and academic collaboration in the future, primarily in the fields of teacher education, ethnography and cultural anthropology, as well as psychological sciences.
In addition to the institutional-level agreement, the Indonesian university has signed further cooperation agreements with UD’s Faculty of Humanities (FoH) and the Faculty of Child Education and Special Education (GYGYK), focusing on areas such as social pedagogy, special education, and early childhood education.
The path leading to the signing of the agreement began with the university’s international students. Currently, 29 Indonesian students are studying in the English-language programs at the University of Debrecen. One of them, Efilina Kissiya, is a fourth-year doctoral student at the Doctoral School of History and Ethnography. Her supervisor, Gábor Biczó — who is also the scientific vice dean of GYGYK and head of the Department of Social Sciences — previously taught as a guest lecturer at Pattimura University.
“This personal connection has been elevated — after extensive consultations — to the institutional and faculty levels across various academic disciplines, thus further expanding the University of Debrecen’s international network. Indonesia is a country of nearly 300 million people, with around 180 spoken languages, and this multiethnic characteristic offers numerous opportunities,” Biczó Gábor told the portal hirek.unideb.hu.
The vice dean emphasized that the Indonesian university is committed to gaining experience from and about Europe, making it an honor that their long-term vision begins with choosing the University of Debrecen.
Founded in 1963, the University of Pattimura focuses its research and innovation efforts on sustainable development, marine and coastal resources, education, and indigenous knowledge systems. As a leading institution in Eastern Indonesia, it is dedicated to the development of human resources, knowledge, technology, and the arts through national and international collaborations. Its academic offerings include teacher and medical education, law, agriculture, engineering, business, mathematics and natural sciences, and a wide range of pedagogical training programs.
During their visit to the University of Debrecen, the delegation — led by Nur Aida Kubangun, Vice-Rector for Student, Public Relations, and Alumni Affairs at Pattimura University — toured the Main Building with the assistance of Okszana Kiszil, head of the UD Coordination and Strategy Directorate, getting acquainted with the history, educational programs, and scientific activities of the institution.
The agreement with the Faculty of Humanities was signed by Péter Csatár on behalf of Dean Róbert Keményfi. Péter Csatár, strategic and financial vice dean of the faculty, highlighted that thanks to this cooperation, a wide-ranging educational and cultural program involving all teacher education units, the Institute of Ethnography and Museology, and the Institute of Psychology can be realized, creating new opportunities for both lecturers and students.
The guests also visited UD’s Hajdúböszörmény campus, where the cooperation agreement with the Faculty of Child Education and Special Education was signed. GYGYK established a comprehensive cooperation agreement with Pattimura University’s Faculty of Teacher Training and Educational Sciences, laying the groundwork for mobility connections and joint research opportunities.
Members of the delegation also participated in the Special Treatment International Interdisciplinary Conference held at GYGYK between April 24–26, where they gave presentations on topics related to their pedagogical research.
(unideb.hu)
