The meeting served as a cordial visit to one of UIII’s Board of Trustees members and an opportunity to discuss the university’s progress and contributions to Indonesia’s public diplomacy. Prof. Jamhari highlighted that 40% of UIII’s students are international, with 4,900 applicants from 91 countries, reflecting the university’s growing global academic presence. He emphasized UIII’s role in public diplomacy by offering scholarships to students from many countries, including Afghanistan, Palestine, and a few other countries, positioning Indonesia’s diplomacy as diplomasi tangan di atas—a generous, uplifting approach that empowers others through education.

UIII expressed its readiness to support the Ministry as a “think tank,” providing intellectual resources to enrich Indonesia’s diplomatic initiatives. The university also proposed creating a database to streamline international cooperation efforts and offered to collaborate on expanding scholarship programs for foreign students from diverse nations, further reinforcing Indonesia’s commitment to global educational outreach.

Minister Sugiono warmly welcomed UIII’s initiatives, recognizing the university as a vital component of Indonesia’s diplomatic strategy. He expressed his deep respect for higher education as a means for the Indonesian nation to excel globally, emphasizing that institutions like UIII play a crucial role in elevating Indonesia’s academic and diplomatic standing on the world stage. In a gesture of further collaboration, Prof. Jamhari invited Minister Sugiono to deliver a public lecture at UIII, an offer that underscores the university’s commitment to fostering dialogue and knowledge exchange.

This meeting marks a significant step in strengthening the partnership between UIII and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aligning academic excellence with Indonesia’s global diplomatic goals through a spirit of diplomasi tangan di atas. []