Strengthening Educational Bonds: UPI’s Collaboration with Norwegian Afghanistan Committee for Sustainable Development

  • April 7, 2024
  • Posted by: Author admin
  • Category: Student Activities
  • Comments Off on Strengthening Educational Bonds: UPI’s Collaboration with Norwegian Afghanistan Committee for Sustainable Development

On Tuesday, April 2, 2024, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) received a visit from the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC). This visit was a collaboration with the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee (NAC) and the Faculty of Educational Science (FIP) UPI. The visit was attended by NAC representative Dr. Ian Kaplan (Senior Education and Research Specialist), Representative of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI), Dean of Faculty of Education (FIP) Prof. Dr. Rudi Susilana, M.Si, Head of International Program Development Division (DIA) Dr. Nia Nafisah, S.S., M.Pd, and Heads of FIP study programs in the meeting room of PPG UPI Building. 

The discussion included the plan to be carried out between the Norwegian Afghanistan Committee and UPI, especially the Faculty of Educational Science. The first speech by the Dean of FIP, Prof. Dr. Rudi Susilana, M.Si, said “We are very grateful and welcome NAC to collaborate with UPI again, and through this meeting, we hope UPI and NAC can collaborate again as back then”. 

The second speech by NAC representative Dr. Ian Kaplan, “Previously, we had to adjust our plans because there were several obstacles that could not be overcome. First, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and second, the unstable political and security situation, but now the situation in Afghanistan has improved even though it turns out that in the education sector many professors have fled because of the unfavorable situation. Therefore, we want to collaborate together so that we can rebuild the education infrastructure in Afghanistan.”

The main discussion during this visit was cooperation in the fields of environment, climate change, disaster and risk management, curriculum development and women’s empowerment. The cooperation will be implemented in research, symposiums, lecturer exchanges and others. UPI and NAC also discussed UPI and Afghanistan student exchange programs, training, and internship programs. With this program, it is expected that Indonesia and Afghanistan can improve their position globally and promote cooperation with prestigious universities. 

Dr. Ian Kaplan hopes that through collaboration with UPI, they can help others because of cultural and religious similarities, which will ultimately contribute at the international level.