ECU's collaboration and two-way exchange with East Java

First published by Edith Cowan University

Edith Cowan University (ECU) was pleased to host the Western Australian East Java Universities Consortium (WAEJUC) at our Joondalup campus as part of WAEJUC's Research Summit.

Established in 2017 by ten public universities in East Java, Indonesia and five universities in Western Australia, WAEJUC promotes research collaboration and international course articulation, and supports two-way student exchanges, staff training, PhD research and visiting fellowships.

WAEJUC's Research Summit invited research leaders and professionals from East Java and Western Australia for matchmaking, grant development and project collaboration sessions. From 28 April to 1 May, the Research Summit also included visits to Murdoch, Curtin and Notre Dame universities and the Australia Indonesia Business Council (AIBC), the Consulate of the Republic of Indonesia and included a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reception.

ECU Dean, International Relations, Associate Professor Helen Vella Bonavita said that ECU is proud to be a member of the WAEJUC.

"The Consortium leverages the combined strengths of universities in Western Australia to increase high-quality research, student mobility, education and training between East Java in Indonesia and Western Australia," said Associate Professor Vella Bonavita.

"ECU warmly welcomed delegates from six Indonesian universities to tour our Joondalup campus, explore our state-of-the-art facilities and to network with researchers."

Professor of Visual and Cultural Studies in ECU's School of Arts and Humanities, Panizza Allmark is the ECU WAEJUC Research Director and co-organised the delegation's visit to ECU.

"The inaugural Research Summit builds on WAEJUC's successes that include inbound and outbound international student exchanges, visiting fellowships and meetings between Western Australia and East Java universities," said Professor Allmark.

"This is a considerable achievement given that the Consortium is less than 10 years old.

"The Summit was a week of great conversation, deepening of friendship and productive research matchmaking."

The East Java delegation hosted by ECU included senior research leaders  from Universitas Airlangga, Universitas Brawijaya, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Universitas Negeri Malang and Universitas Pembangunan Nasional "Veteran" Jawa Timur.

Support for the WAEJUC Research Summit has been provided by the Consulate General Republic of Indonesia in Perth, the Australian Indonesia Business Council and the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with funding provided by Invest and Trade WA.