Nusa Cendana University:Embracing Tri-lateral Cooperation

with East Timor and Australia

Rector Prof Fred Benu

Jl. Adisucipto, Penfui, Kupang 85001, NTT, Indonesia

Phone/fax: +62380881586

email: rector@undana.ac.id, website: http://www.undana.ac.id

Presentation outline

• Introducing UNDANA

• Embracing tri-lateral cooperation trough teaching, research, and community services

• Emerging issues and recommendations

About UNDANA:Universitas Nusa Cendana•Vision: global oriented university

•Mission:

• Establishing a high-standard and globally competitive education, research, and community services focusing on the management of archipelagic dryland environment

• Contributing to local, national, regional, and global efforts to improve the livelihoods of low-income community through research, training, and community services to support more sustainable development practices

• Improving university governance to facilitate better academic atmosphere for learning, research, and community services and to expand partnership and cooperation with other institution at local, national, and international levels

Brief Information• A government funded university established on 1

September 1962 with initially only 4 faculties in two campuses: Kupang and Ende

• Now includes:• 11 faculties and 1 graduate program: Education

and Teacher Training, Social and Political Science, Law, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Science and Engineering, Public Health, Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Marine and Fisheries, and Economics and Business

• 4 institutes: Research, Community Services, Education, and Education Standard

• Number undergraduate degree programs: 47, masters programs: 8, and PhD program: 2

• Number of academic staff: 903, administration: 342, students: 20,348, and alumni: 48,287

Current Campuses

• Main Campus in Kupang• External Campus (PDD) in

Bajawa, Flores• External Campus (PDD) in

Wetabula, Sumba

Unique location

Core Academic Focus• The focus of teaching, research, and community

services at Undana is archipelagic drylands

• This focus is based on the fact that Undana is located in a globally unique chain of islands that due to proximity to the drier part of Australia is very much influenced by the climate of Australian dessert

• To enhance this focus, Undana has set up a research unit called Field Laboratory on Archipelagic Drylands

• This field laboratory is developing the necessary facilities with funding from the central and the provincial governments

• This field laboratory is now working in partnership with Bogor Agricultural University, Mataram University, Udayana University, Sriwijaya University, and Jambi University to seek funding from MCA Indonesia for developing more environmentally friendly development practices in Sumba Island and other parts of Indonesia

Cooperation with Universities in East Timor

• UNDANA currently cooperates with: Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL), Universidade Dili (Undil), Dili Institute of Technology (DIT), and Universidade da Paz (Unpaz)

• Cooperation encompases teaching, research, community services, and student activities

• As part of the cooperation, UNDANA accepts students from partner universities to study at UNDANA and with UNTL collaborates on a joint research program on educability of Timorese children

Cooperation with Charles Darwin University• UNDANA has a long history of cooperation with

Charles Darwin University• Notable cooperation includes fire management

research, health service and forest management mapping, research on artisanal and small-scale mining, language training, and field intensive

• Currently working on extending the cooperation on graduate student co-supervision and research on small-scale irrigation management

Cooperation with Other Australian Universities/Institutions

• Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Bruce ACT: research on commodity value chain

• James Cook University, Townsville: joint supervision of PhD students

• Flinders University, Adelaide: teaching supports for undergraduate medical students

• La Trobe University, Melbourne: credit earning program

• University of Tasmania, Hobart: teaching supports for undergraduate medical students

• University of Sunshine Coast, Sunshine Coast: support for establishing undergraduate program on tourism

Partnership with Indonesian Universities/Institutions that involves cooperation with Australian Universities/Institution

• UNDANA, UKSW, Unmas, Unsrat and the Pacific Institue with CDU supported by Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (PBCRC): research and government and community engagement on biosecurity, biodiversity, and food security

• UNDANA, UHO, APRI, and BaliFocus Foundation with CDU supported by Government Partnership for Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: research on impacts of informal mining and community engagement to improve informal mining practices in West Timor and Southeastern Sulawesi

Partnership with Indonesian Universities/Institutions that involves cooperation with Australian Universities/Institution (continued)

• UNDANA, UGM and UKSW with CDU on Eastern Indonesia Field Intensive: research and community engagement on rural livelihoods, focus on Linamnutu Village, South Central Timor District

• UNDANA and Australian partner universities through CDU: BIPA Program to study Bahasa Indonesia and Indonesian culture

• UNDANA, Provincial and District Planning Boards, Provincial and District General Work Services, Mitra Tani Mandiri Foundation with CDU: Improving irrigation infrastructure for greater food and water security in eastern Indonesia (AIIRA)

Emerging Issues and Recommendations

• Dependency on external funding; each partner institution should secure multi-years funding to guarantee more sustainable cooperation

• Initiatives mostly come from Australian institutions; this trilateral meeting should include sessions for planning future cooperation agenda

• No direct Kupang-Dili and Kupang-Darwin flight; Indonesian and Australian government should open direct flight connecting the three cities to bring the three neighbouring countries closer

Thank Youlooking forward to seeing you all in Kupang next year

For further information, please contact:

Deputy Rector for Cooperation: pr4@undana.ac.id