On July 22, 2024, the College of Local Administration (COLA) at Khon Kaen University (KKU) took a significant step in strengthening its regional influence by forging deeper academic ties with Indonesia’s leading public administration institutions. The COLA executive team traveled to Indonesia to sign an important academic collaboration agreement with the Faculty of Public Administration at Institut Pemerintahan Dalam Negeri (IPDN), the nation’s premier institute for training and developing local civil servants.
This partnership, which dates back to 2013, has already facilitated numerous student and staff exchanges between the two institutions. The recent signing ceremony, attended by the deans of both COLA and IPDN, marks a renewed commitment to this collaboration, with plans to explore new initiatives and further strengthen their academic and cultural ties.
IPDN, operating under Indonesia’s Ministry of Home Affairs, plays a critical role in shaping the nation’s local government workforce. The institute selects students from provinces across Indonesia, offering them full scholarships and housing, provided by the Ministry. Upon graduation, these students are required to serve in local government agencies within their home regions, ensuring that their education directly benefits their communities. IPDN’s unique boarding school model emphasizes strict disciplinary training, preparing students for the rigors of public service.
Over the years, COLA has sent students to IPDN for one-month exchange programs, with IPDN reciprocating by sending its students to Thailand. While these activities were paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the recent MOU signing signals a return to these exchanges. Additionally, COLA has extended an invitation to IPDN to co-host an international conference on Public Affairs, titled “AI for Better Public Services,” later this year, further enhancing their collaborative efforts.
The following day, on July 23, 2024, COLA continued its diplomatic mission by signing a Letter of Intent for Collaboration with the Faculty of Administrative Sciences at Brawijaya University in Malang, Indonesia. This faculty, known as the first and oldest public administration school in Indonesia, brings together Public Administration and Business Administration in a unique interdisciplinary curriculum.
During the discussions, both institutions agreed to launch reciprocal short-term student exchange programs and a collaborative “3 in 1” teaching exchange program in the upcoming academic year. Brawijaya University, ranked among the top five public universities in Indonesia, is located on Java Island in the historic city of Malang, once the capital of the ancient Brawijaya Kingdom. The connection between the two universities is already strong, with two faculty members from Brawijaya currently pursuing their doctoral studies at Khon Kaen University.
These agreements not only reinforce COLA’s position as a key player in ASEAN academic collaborations but also pave the way for innovative educational programs that will benefit both Thailand and Indonesia. The exchanges are expected to foster a deeper understanding of public administration practices across borders, ultimately contributing to more effective governance in both countries.
Tags: COLA KKU, IPDN, Brawijaya University, Public Administration, Academic Collaboration, Indonesia
