Multimedia Nusantara University Discusses Possible Collaborations with RMIT University Australia

UMN welcomes RMIT University to discuss possible collaborations. (Doc. Marketing Communications UMN)

TANGERANG – On Thursday, (17/11/22), RMIT University Australia visited Multimedia Nusantara University (UMN) to discuss possible collaboration between the two universities. The meeting was done on-site at the UMN campus.

The meeting was attended by several representatives from RMIT University and UMN: Tom Gifford (Head of Student Recruitment, International & Domestic at RMIT University); Chaminda Ranasinghe (Chief Experience Officer at RMIT University); Muliawati G. Siswanto (Vice Chancellor for Relations and Cooperations); Boby Arinto (Global Office UMN); and Johannes Tambing Boro (Manager of CED UMN).

“UMN is a younger university than ours, but I think a lot of the strength you have as a university around design, communication, and multimedia. We have a similar focus to our programs at RMIT. We are also aware that we have students from your institution (UMN) studying at RMIT,” Tom said.

RMIT University is a university in Melbourne, Australia. According to their site, RMIT is a global university of technology, design, and enterprise— a world leader in Art and Design, Architecture, Education, Engineering, Development, Computer Science & Information Systems, Business & Management, and Communication & Media Studies.

RMIT University has done well in terms of attracting and guiding students from Indonesia studying at RMIT. The aim of the meeting is for the two universities to become potential partners and look at collaboration opportunities— aligning with their aspirations in terms of internationalizing their approach with their partners in Indonesia.

RMIT University proposes a joint program collaboration in design. (Doc. Marketing Communications UMN)

“We’d like to understand your ambitions, thoughts, and see potential collaborations like study abroad, articulation, and research collaborations, just to see if there’s a chance for the two universities to work together,” Tom said.

Chaminda added that RMIT University representatives ideally are looking to find a partner that they can grow with, doing joint programs to seek funding together.

One ambitious collaboration proposed by RMIT University is doing joint programs— a program said to be difficult to start and initiate. Per discussion, when seeing the common strength between UMN and RMIT, it’s design, but it is challenging as design has higher entry criteria.

“But it’s a good thing. If a student wants to take design at RMIT because the ranks are high, and you offer the foundation or diploma here, and they don’t want to go to Australia soon as staying in Indonesia is cheaper, they get the mark (at UMN), then they can go to RMIT to finish the degree,” Tom said.

As shared by Muliawati, UMN has plenty of experience collaborating with international universities on joint programs like the one with Swinburne University of Technology with the “Swinburne International Program” where students from the Informatics Study Program can earn a dual degree by joining the program.

“I think the collaboration to do a joint program is a very attractive option,” Muliawati said. She also hopes that the proposal on the collaboration could be created soon.

There is a bright possibility of collaboration in the future between UMN and RMIT University, specifically regarding design. More discussions are needed to soon plan and realize the partnership.

RMIT University is one of the most prominent universities in Australia, also popular amongst Indonesian students. This collaboration could open the possibilities for UMN students to not only continue their studies at RMIT but also for both universities to grow academically together.

By Levina Chrestella Theodora

Kuliah di Jakarta untuk jurusan program studi Informatika | Sistem Informasi | Teknik Komputer | Teknik Elektro | Teknik Fisika | Akuntansi | Manajemen| Komunikasi Strategis | Jurnalistik | Desain Komunikasi Visual | Film dan Animasi | Arsitektur | D3 Perhotelan , di Universitas Multimedia Nusantara. www.umn.ac.id