Chirchik, UPI
In a significant move to strengthen international academic ties, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) and Uzbekistan Chirchik State Pedagogical University (UCSPU) held a high-level partnership meeting on March 4, 2026. The meeting, hosted at the UCSPU Vice Rector’s office in Chirchik City, Tashkent, Uzbekistan, marked a new milestone in bilateral cooperation between the two institutions.
The primary agenda of the visit focused on the signing and implementation of several Memoranda of Agreement (MoA). These agreements encompass:
- The establishment of joint academic programs.
- A specialized collaboration with the UPI School of Postgraduate Studies (SPs UPI) focusing on international journal article writing workshops and collaborative research.
- Strategic partnerships regarding international accreditation and professional coaching for international journal management.
Prof. Dr. Agus Setiabudi, M.Si., UPI’s Vice Rector for Research, Community Service, and Partnerships, emphasized that this visit is a core component of UPI’s strategic vision to expand its global footprint.
”This partnership is not just about signatures on paper; it is about expanding our international reach through joint training, research, and publication,” Prof. Setiabudi stated.
He further offered UPI’s expertise to assist UCSPU in pedagogic program development and proposed the establishment of an Indonesian language program at UCSPU, a project set to be supported by the Indonesian Embassy.
Ass. Prof. Dr. Axmadjanov Doniyor Baxtiyor, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at UCSPU, welcomed the delegation warmly, recalling his previous visit to UPI campuses in Bandung and Sumedang in 2024. He noted that UCSPU is currently prioritizing both national and international accreditation for its teacher study programs and expressed a keen interest in applying for UPI’s AsTEN Teacher Education Quality Assurance Agency (ATQA).
The discussion also delved into the specifics of student and faculty mobility:
- Reciprocal Accommodation: UCSPU committed to providing accommodation for Indonesian students and requested similar arrangements for Uzbek students in Indonesia.
- Seasonal Programs: A proposal was made for UCSPU to organize “Winter Programs,” while UPI is expected to host “Summer Programs” lasting 7–10 days.
- Diversified Collaboration: Beyond education study programs, UCSPU is eager to involve its newer non-education sectors, such as economics and tourism, in student mobility schemes.
A key highlight of the meeting was the status of the joint program, which UCSPU has already requested from the Uzbek Ministry of Education, with a target effective starting date in the upcoming Fall semester of 2026.
The meeting concluded with a potential mutual agreement to explore faculty member mobility, ensuring that the partnership benefits not only students but also the academic staff of both prestigious universities. (Contributor: Eri Kurniawan)