International collaborative network between Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) and partners in the United States (US) is still limited. Many areas of collaboration can actually be explored to get funding schemes in the fields of education, research, capacity building, and others. In terms of student exchange, UGM students have a keen interest in getting an opportunity to study at US universities. This is shown by the number of UGM students who choose universities in the US as their destination for the exchange program. Through the Indonesian International Student Mobility Award (IISMA) program itself, in 2021 there were 19 students participating in the exchange program from Kampus Merdeka, and in 2022 through the same program, there were 7 students registered. The IISMA program, which was initiated by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology as a part of the Independent Learning Independent Campus (MBKM) program, is considered to be very competitive that one of the means to increase student mobility to the US is to initiate a semester-based student exchange collaboration agreement. This collaboration agreement will exempt students from tuition fees. However, many partners in the US region are reluctant to process collaboration agreements under this scheme. This reluctance is due to the consideration of the principle of reciprocity, while UGM students are keen to join student exchange programs in the US, this is not the case for US students who tend to join student exchange programs in the European region. Seeing this fact, an approach is needed to introduce the position and potential of UGM in several universities in the US region.
Highlights

UGM received a visit from Leiden University on Tuesday, May 9, 2023. Mr. Ignatius Susatyo Wijoyo, M.M., Vice Rector for Research, Business Development and Partnerships of UGM, welcomed the delegations led by Professor Annetje Ottow, President of the Executive Board of Leiden University. This courtesy meeting was hosted as a part of sequence of events taking place in the Program Leiden University Knowledge Mission to Universitas Gadjah Mada, commencing on May 9-10, 2023.

On Wednesday, May 4, 2023, Mahidol University visited Universitas Gadjah Mada as part of its visitation activity in Indonesia. President of Mahidol University, Banchong Mahaisavariya, M.D. together with the ranks of Mahidol University was welcomed by the Rector of Universitas Gadjah Mada, Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG., Ph.D., in the University Club followed by the deans of the faculties at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

On Wednesday May 3rd, 2023, the Embassy of Belgium in Indonesia made a visit to Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). The delegation was led by Mr. H.E. Frank Felix, the ambassador of Belgium in Indonesia, accompanied by Mr. Randolph Wintgens and Mr. Marc Peeters, both Foreign Trade Advisors of Belgium. Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG(K)., Ph.D., Rector of UGM welcomed the delegation together with the Dean of Faculty of Forestry, Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Dean of Faculty of Agricultural Technology, representatives from the Faculty of Economics and Business, and several alumni from Belgium who are currently active lecturers at UGM. This visit is aimed to strengthen the relations between Indonesia and Belgium, specifically relations between UGM and Belgian Institutions.
Università di Napoli L’Orientale (UNIOR) made a visit to UGM on Tuesday, October 18, 2022. UNIOR rector, Prof. Roberto Tottoli, accompanied by Prof. Fransesca Bellino as the lecture in Arabic Literature and Prof. Antonia Soriente as the Coordinator for International Relations with Indonesian Institutions were welcomed by Prof. Dr. Wening Udasmoro, S.S., M.Hum., DEA., the Vice Rector for Education and Learning, Dr. Puji Astuti, S.Si., M.Sc., Apt., the Director of Partnerships, Alumni and Global Initiatives, and I Made Andi Arsana, Ph.D., the Head of Office of International Affairs. Dr. Mimi Savitri, MA., the Vice Dean for Research, Community Service, Collaboration and Alumni, Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) and Arifah Arum Candra Hayuningsih, S.S., M.A., Coordinator of Public Relations Office at FIB, also welcomed the delegates. This visit aimed to discuss the development of cooperation between UGM and UNIOR.
H.E. Ms. Penny Williams PSM, the ambassador of The Commonwealth of Australia, visited UGM on Monday, September 12, 2022, as part of her visitation activity to Yogyakarta. She was welcomed by the rector of UGM, Prof. dr. Ova Emilia, M.Med.Ed., Sp.OG., Ph.D., in the UGM Main Building.
UGM welcomed the representatives from Danish universities on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Delegations from Denmark who visited UGM included the representatives from Aarhus University and Copenhagen Business School. The representatives from Aarhus University consisted of Finn Borchsenius, Vice Dean for Engineering Education and Sarah Grams, International Recruitment Manager. As for Copenhagen Business School, the representatives consisted of Martin Jes Iversen, Deputy Dean for International Education and Björn Jindra, professor from Copenhagen Business School. The delegation from Denmark was welcomed by Dr. Puji Astuti, S.Si., M.Sc., Apt., the Director of Partnerships, Alumni, and Global Initiatives, and I Made Andi Arsana, the head of the Office of International Affairs, at UGM Main Building. This discussion was also attended by the representatives from relevant faculties at UGM, including the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Faculty of Biology, Faculty of Animal Science, Faculty of Engineering, and Faculty of Economics and Business.