Universitas Brawijaya (UB) continues to expand its international network by forging a strategic partnership with Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), a prestigious UK university and a member of the Russell Group. The meeting between UB and QMUL focused on various academic collaboration opportunities, including student mobility, curriculum enhancement, and a doctoral acceleration program for UB faculty members.
The productive discussion was attended by UB’s leadership and a delegation from QMUL, including Professor Helen Bailey (Vice Principal International) and Mr. Lee Wildman (Director of Global Engagement). QMUL, ranked 120th in the QS World University Rankings, comprises three main faculties: Science and Engineering, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Medicine and Dentistry.
One of the key collaboration points discussed was the acceleration of doctoral programs for UB lecturers. QMUL offered a PhD by Distance Learning scheme, allowing UB faculty members to complete their doctoral studies remotely while receiving supervision from QMUL academics. This initiative was met with enthusiasm by UB, as accelerating doctoral education is one of the university’s top priorities.
UB Rector, Prof. Widodo, S.Si., M.Si., Ph.D.Med.Sc., emphasized UB’s strong commitment to supporting this program. “We are very excited about this collaboration. Queen Mary has initially opened opportunities for 20 of our lecturers to join the accelerated PhD program, but UB is ready to send 100. We want as many of our faculty members as possible to obtain doctoral degrees to enhance UB’s academic quality at a global level,” he stated optimistically.
Beyond the doctoral program, discussions also explored potential collaborations in areas such as curriculum development, joint degree programs, and distance learning opportunities, particularly in medicine and social sciences/humanities. QMUL also expressed interest in collaborating with UB at its Special Economic Zone (KEK), following UB’s ongoing partnership with King’s College London. The UB Rector reaffirmed the university’s readiness to support the implementation of this collaboration, including providing necessary facilities if required.
This partnership with QMUL strengthens UB’s position in the global academic network, opening significant opportunities for students and faculty to gain international learning and research experiences at a world-class university.
