USK Strengthens International Partnerships with South Korea and Japan

Jeju, South Korea – June 9, 2025 — Universitas Syiah Kuala (USK) continues to enhance its international collaborations, particularly with leading educational institutions and industries in South Korea and Japan. These partnerships reflect USK’s strong commitment to expanding its global network in the fields of education, research, culture, and technological innovation.

In South Korea, USK established and further developed strategic partnerships with several prominent institutions, including the University of the Nations (UofN) Jeju, Jeju National University, and Jeju Province Development Corporation (JPDC). A key highlight of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between USK and UofN Jeju, held officially at the UofN Jeju campus.

The USK delegation was led by Rector Prof. Ir. Marwan and the Head of the Office of International Affairs, Dr. Muzailin Affan. From the Korean side, notable attendees included Dr. Joshua Kim, UofN Jeju President Prof. Sok Gon Park, Prof. Sungkyu Kim, and Dr. Steve Donguk Kang.

In his remarks, Rector Prof. Marwan emphasized that the collaboration between USK and UofN Jeju dates back to 2009, shortly after the tsunami disaster in Aceh.

“Several collaborative initiatives have taken place in Aceh, such as the promotion of Korean culture and language among Indonesians, especially the Acehnese community. As part of these efforts, USK established the Korean Culture Center and Korean Corner on its campus,” said Prof. Marwan.

He further noted that UofN Jeju is home to a Peace Museum, which symbolizes the spirit of reconciliation and international cooperation. Inspired by this, USK and the Aceh Government are planning to build a similar Peace Museum at USK’s second campus as a continuation of the strategic partnership with Jeju Province and UofN Jeju.

This partnership also includes academic exchanges for faculty and students, and the establishment of the King Sejong Institute at USK, serving as a Korean language learning center. The newly signed MoU affirms both parties’ commitment to strengthening long-term collaboration in academic, cultural, and global education initiatives.

The USK delegation also visited Jeju National University, which has maintained cooperation with USK in joint research projects and staff/student exchange programs.

On June 11, 2025, USK visited Jeju Province Development Corporation (JPDC), a government-owned company and Korea’s largest bottled water producer. JPDC expressed interest in collaboration for research and student internship programs, particularly in industrial development and local agricultural product processing, such as Jeju tangerines and hallabong.

Continuing its international visit, USK signed an MoU with Nara University of Education (NUE) in Japan on 13 June 2025. The USK delegation was warmly welcomed by Prof. Lin-Yu Liou, Prof. Oikawa, Prof. Miyashita, and Prof. Maeda.

This partnership builds upon previous collaborations, particularly in the areas of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and teacher training. The program focuses on managing model schools and enhancing teacher capacity, aiming to contribute significantly to educational advancement in both countries.

On June 14, 2025, USK also established a new collaboration with BioZero1 Corporation, a biotechnology company based in Shiga Prefecture, Japan, specializing in alternative treatments for cancer and diabetes. The partnership includes joint research, student internship opportunities, and potential commercialization of BioZero1 products in Indonesia, which could serve as a future revenue stream for USK as a legal entity university.

Mr. Wada, a representative of BioZero1, explained that the company has developed a supplement formula through the fermentation of organic materials and Brazilian mushrooms over the past 20 years. The supplement is widely used in Japan to support cancer patient recovery. As a legal entity university, USK has the potential to collaborate in the commercialization of this product in Indonesia, contributing to institutional revenue generation in the future.