Universitas Brawijaya (UB) continues to expand its international partnerships by exploring academic collaboration opportunities with the University of the Philippines Manila (UPM). The visit, which took place on Monday, February 24, 2025, was led by Dr. Didik Hartono, M.Pd., Director of UB’s International Office, along with Coordinator of Partnership for South East Asia and Africa Aulia Luqman Aziz, M.Pd., and was received by Dr. Vivien Fe F. Fadrilan-Camacho, Director of the Office of International Linkages at UPM.
The meeting, held at the UPM Board Room, 8/F Philippine General Hospital, Taft Avenue, Manila, focused on five key areas of collaboration: student exchange (both credit exchange for one semester and short-term programs of 1-2 weeks for academic and cultural engagement in Indonesia), Adjunct Professor program, “3 in 1” Program, double degree program, joint research, and joint events such as international conferences.
Dr. Didik Hartono emphasized that UB sees UPM as a strategic partner for various academic and research programs. “We are very enthusiastic about establishing collaboration with the University of the Philippines Manila, especially in student exchange and double degree programs. With UPM’s strong academic reputation, we believe this partnership will bring significant benefits to both institutions, enhancing academic quality and international exposure for students,” he stated.
On behalf of UPM, Dr. Vivien Fe F. Fadrilan-Camacho welcomed the initiative and expressed interest in developing joint programs aligned with UPM’s academic strengths. “We see great potential in this collaboration, particularly for the double degree program with our Master’s in Public Administration and student exchange programs focused on health-related topics. As an institution specializing in health sciences, we are keen to explore student mobility programs in the fields of healthcare and public policy,” she said.
As one of the key campuses within the University of the Philippines system, UPM is renowned as a leading institution in health sciences and also manages the Philippine General Hospital, the largest hospital in Manila. With strong academic potential and well-established facilities, this partnership is expected to contribute positively to the advancement of education and research at both universities.
