On Thursday, 3 September 2026, Walailak University (WU), led by Associate Professor Dr. Surin Maisrikrod, Vice President, along with the Center for International Affairs (CIA), warmly welcomed an executive delegation from Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Jakarta (UPNVJ), Indonesia. The visiting UPNVJ delegation was led by Rector Prof. Dr. Anter Venus, M.A., Comm., accompanied by Dr. Bambang Susanto, M.A., Acting Director of the Office of International Affairs, and Dr. Firdaus Noor, M.I.Kom., M.Sn., Head of Public Relations.

The visit, which took place from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM, aimed to further strengthen the bilateral relationship and advance internationalization strategies. Key academic representatives from Walailak University joined the session to present future collaboration plans. These included Asst. Prof. Dr. Kiki Juli Anggoro and Asst. Prof. Dr. Pongpan Compan from the School of Education; Asst. Prof. Dr. Rachadatip Uppathampracha from the School of Political Sciences & Public Administration; and Asst. Prof. Dr. Shubham Pathak alongside Asst. Prof. Dr. Pankeawta Lakkanawanit from the School of Accountancy and Finance.

The partnership between WU and UPNVJ began with an initial Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2021. To elevate institutional cooperation, both universities renewed their MoU to focus on three core strategic pillars: Collaboration, Diversity, and International Visibility. Past joint efforts have yielded successful initiatives, such as reciprocal visiting professorships, co-teaching programs, and the continuous execution of international summer school courses (such as the FEB-SM Summer School) that combine academic training with ASEAN cultural engagement. Additionally, cross-border community service initiatives—including market feasibility studies for regional product imports—have successfully demonstrated practical economic and societal benefits.

During the discussion, both institutions focused on expanding future operational action plans. A key priority is the development of joint Double Degree Programs, supported by systematic curricula matching and course credit transfers to create seamless educational pathways for students. Furthermore, both sides agreed to transition from short-term activities toward semester-long academic exchanges and international student internships.

To enhance faculty development and scholarly impact, WU and UPNVJ will accelerate joint research endeavors supported by matching grant funds, targeted co-authorship for high-impact Scopus (Q1) journal publications, and bilateral citation strategies. This ongoing partnership underscores a shared commitment to building a sustainable, global academic network across higher education institutions in the region.