Newcastle University is today signing an agreement with top universities in Indonesia to raise educational standards.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron MP today hosted a ceremony to celebrate the growing links between the two countries. At the ceremony, alongside David Willetts, the Minister of State for Universities and Science, Newcastle University’s Chair of Council, Mark I’Anson signed an agreement with the Rector of the country’s leading educational establishment, Universitas Indonesia.

This paves the way for the setting up a Newcastle-Indonesia Doctoral Training Centre in Newcastle specialising initially in Biomedical research excellence. Initially the new centre will be focused on the broad area of biomedical research, including medicine, dentistry, and nutrition.

Based in Newcastle University’s Faculty of Medical Sciences, the new training centre could provide up to 40 trainee doctors a year from Indonesia with the skills needed to conduct medical research important to supporting their country’s health service. Students would be provided with mentoring from Universitas Indonesia ensuring they are supported as they return back to Indonesia. This new centre is due to open in 2013, following the signing.

Mark I’Anson said: “The signing today builds on our long-standing relationship with Universitas Indonesia and paves the way for future collaborations.

“It recognises our expertise which is offering students the chance to pursue a career in research and they in turn are helping increase our understanding of some of the health conditions in a worldwide context.

“I am delighted to be joining leading businesses and universities from the UK and Indonesia at Number 10 today to celebrate these successful collaborations.”

Newcastle University currently offers an MRes (Masters in Research) in Newcastle for students from Indonesian universities. These students are trainee doctors taking a year out from their undergraduate studies allowing them to join other students specialising in research in Biomedicine.

Newcastle’s existing links to five universities including Universitas Indonesia and Universitas Airlangga has meant that 11 students are on the programme this year – with 12 last year. Building on this success a joint PhD is now being offered with the first student starting in April 2013.

The flourishing links with Indonesia have also offered opportunities for increased understanding of global health. Current studies include looking at the ageing populations in both countries and how research can lead to healthy ageing.

In addition, Newcastle University is exporting its teaching excellence and boosting the Indonesian economy by advising on how to create spin-out companies from research, supporting collaborations and increasing research opportunities.

Newcastle University intends to build on the success of the links branching into business and economics teaching over time.

published on: 1 November 2012