To expand the cooperation network, Prof. Sumaryanto, as Rector of UNY, was accompanied by Vice-Rector for Planning and Cooperation, Prof. Siswantoyo. His entourage recently opened the door for cooperation in the African region. The collaboration was carried out with the University of Burundi, in Bujumbura City. The University of Burundi, established in 1964, is a public university in a country that has recently been free from war and civil conflict for approximately 70 years. Soldiers and police officers always carry rifles in every corner of the city.
The Rector of the University of Burundi, Prof. Audace Manirabona, has sent a lecturer named Japhet Ndayisenga to Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta to pursue a Master's to Doctorate in sports. The UNY Team's collaborative visit to the University of Burundi was joyfully greeted by the Rector, Vice Rector, Director, and related staff. Prof. Audace Manirabona was very happy and said that as long as this university was established, Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta would be the first university from Asia to visit and collaborate with the University of Burundi.
UNY Vice-Rector for Planning and Cooperation, Prof. Siswantoyo, said that UNY is willing to build more partnerships with several African countries. Japhet Ndayisenga is an excellent example of the prospect of building education collaboration between UNY and the University of Burundi. It is visible to have more partnership programs on Visiting Professors, Joint Research, Joint Publications, Joint Curriculum, Student and Staff Exchange, Credit Transfers, Short Courses, and Summer Camps.
On the visit to Nairobi, Kenya, UNY Delegates visited UMMA University and were received by Vice-Chancellor Dr. Halima Saado Abdillahi and discussed plans to develop cooperation in higher education, developing the capacity of teaching staff and lecturer exchanges.
The UNY delegation also met with representatives of young people from Kenya and other countries, such as the Uganda-Indonesia Friendship Association (UGINFA) and alums from Somalia, who attended in a hybrid manner to introduce various study programs at UNY. Indonesian Ambassador in Nairobi, Dr. Mohamad Hery Saripudin said that Kenya and other accredited countries are targeted countries in East Africa with great opportunities for collaboration within the framework of Sister University Cooperation with universities in Indonesia. "So far, the Indonesian Embassy in Nairobi has actively promoted educational diplomacy, including scholarships managed by the Ministry and the Partnership for Developing Countries (KNB) scholarships as well as those offered independently by various campuses in the country," he said.
