IPB University Welcomes an Official Visit from the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu to Advance Academic Partnership

BOGOR – IPB University welcomed an official delegation from the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at its Dramaga Campus in Bogor. The visit aimed to strengthen academic cooperation and explore opportunities for future collaboration between the two countries.

The Vanuatu delegation, led by Mr. Joe Gideon, Principal Scholarship Officer at the Ministry of Education, was accompanied by representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia. During the meeting, Mr. Gideon highlighted the growing interest among Vanuatu students in pursuing higher education in Indonesia. This trend is reflected in the increasing number of applicants for the Developing Countries Partnership Scholarship (KNB) and the Indonesian AID Scholarship (TIAS) programs. Currently, two students from Vanuatu and one student from the Solomon Islands are pursuing their bachelor’s degree at IPB University under the TIAS scholarship scheme. 

The Vice Rector for Education and Student Affairs, Prof. drh. Deni Noviana, PhD, warmly welcomed the delegation and emphasized that this visit strengthens the friendship between the two countries and their shared commitment to advancing education, innovation, and sustainable development. He added that under this year’s institutional theme of “Global Engagement,” IPB University continues to strengthen its role as a strategic partner in the development of science, technology, and human capacity for countries in the Global South. He added that this vision aligns closely with the development priorities and challenges faced by island nations such as Vanuatu, particularly in agriculture, tropical biosciences, marine science, and veterinary medicine. 

The delegation from Vanuatu expressed their appreciation for the acceptance of their students and explained that each year approximately 2,000 students from that country submit scholarship applications for study abroad,with Indonesia becoming an increasingly attractive destination for higher education.

The meeting also highlighted a wide range of potential areas for collaboration, including faculty and student exchanges, human resource capacity-building, and joint research in food security, sustainable agriculture, and marine resource management. In addition, IPB University introduced its diverse academic offerings, ranging from undergraduate to doctoral programs. 

The visit marked an important step toward strengthening the partnership between IPB University and the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu, paving the way for mutually beneficial collaboration and deeper cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.