Indonesia, Cyprus discuss bolstering ties in education, research

 The governments of Indonesia and Cyprus have moved to expand bilateral cooperation in higher education, science, technology, and research.

Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology Stella Christie hosted Cypriot Ambassador to Indonesia Nikos Panayiotou in Jakarta on Wednesday (April 1), where the two sides jointly drafted a memorandum of understanding (MoU).

In a statement cited here on Thursday, Christie said the MoU is intended to serve as an umbrella framework, enabling universities and related institutions in both countries to collaborate without the need to negotiate separate agreements.

“I want us to have an MoU that can be used as the basis of cooperation by higher education institutions,” Christie said, stressing the need for universities to focus on substantive collaboration rather than administrative procedures.

The deputy minister expressed confidence that the many similarities between Indonesia and Cyprus would pave the way for broader, mutually beneficial partnerships. She pointed to their shared characteristics as maritime nations, which she said afford them “great potential” for collaboration.

"Research on maritime affairs has yet to be fully tapped. One riveting field is carbon capture," Christie added.

Ambassador Panayiotou, for his part, underscored the pivotal role of academic cooperation in bilateral relations, noting that several universities in Cyprus provide undergraduate and graduate scholarships for Indonesian students and are open to assistance with doctoral programs.

He described facilitating academic mobility as key to enabling talents from both nations to build networks and nurture professional ties, which could lead to long-term research collaborations, including those conducted remotely.

In this regard, the ambassador pointed to cooperation prospects under the European Union’s Horizon Europe program.

During the Jakarta talks, the two governments also explored collaboration across other strategic sectors, including the blue economy and tourism.

It was announced that a Cypriot delegation specializing in technology and innovation is scheduled to visit Indonesia in late June 2026 to foster links with universities and relevant stakeholders.