International Office (IO) UNHAS Welcomed the Leiden University Indonesia Representative
On Friday, 3 October 2025, The International Office (IO), Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) warmly welcomed a representative from Leiden University, Mr. Afwandi, during his official visit to Makassar. The visit aimed to further strengthen academic cooperation, explore new opportunities for collaboration, and promote access to Leiden University’s vast Indonesian collections.
Representing Leiden University’s IO, Mr. Afwandi met with key members of UNHAS’s IO, including Andi Masyitha Irwan.,Ph.D ( Head of IO), Muhammad Ridwan, M.A., ( Secretary of IO), Haniek Khoirunnissa Baja, M.Sc., and Khaeruddin.,Ph.D (IO task forces). The meeting served as a platform to discuss shared academic interests, partnership programs, and potential future initiatives.
During the session,Mr. Afwandi introduced Leiden University’s wide range of resources that support research and cultural exchange, such as the Leiden University Libraries Catalogue and the Digital Collections, which provide open access to Indonesia-related manuscripts, historical archives, and rare materials. He also highlighted Leiden University’s ongoing collaborations with Indonesian institutions—including National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), National Library of Indonesia (Perpusnas), and National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI) in digitizing important manuscripts such as the La Galigo, Hikayat Aceh, and Panji Stories, many of which are part of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.
In his presentation, Mr. Afwandi emphasized the role of the Leiden University Office in Indonesia, which was established in 2015 to facilitate research partnerships, scholarship funding, alumni networking, and academic branding in the region. He also shared updates about the Leiden University, Delft University of Technology, and Erasmus University (LDE–BRIN) Writing Academy on Sustainable Urbanisation, as well as Leiden’s cooperation with Indonesian scholarship programs such as Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (Kemdikbudristek), and Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag).
Following this presentation, Andi Masyitha Irwan.,Ph.D also presented about UNHAS, which highlighted the university’s long standing history, diverse faculties, and notable achievements in education, innovation and international collaboration. The presentation showcased UNHAS’s commitment to global engagement through various international programs and partnerships across Asia, Europe, and beyond.
The visit concluded with an engaging discussion on future collaborations between Leiden University and UNHAS, particularly in the areas of joint research, exchange programs, and manuscript studies. This visit reflects Leiden University’s continuous commitment to building meaningful academic bridges with Indonesian universities—fostering knowledge exchange, research collaboration, and mutual understanding across cultures.
