MOU Signing with UNM
Posted by Nyoman Riasa (nriasa) on Aug 29 2009
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MOU Signing with UNM

The State University of Makassar (Universitas Negeri Makassar - UNM) and ULearn International Education has signed an MOU for implementing educational training program for Eastern Indonesia. The MOU was signed in Makassar on Saturday August 1st 2009 by the Rector of UNM, Prof. Dr. Arismunandar, M.Pd. and Nyoman Riasa, Director of Studies in conjunction with the 48th Dies Natalis (anniversary) of the university. Besides all deans, directors, heads of departments, the anniversary was also attended by all UNM stake holders, Governor of South Sulawesi, Heads of Districts and all relevant dignitaries in the province.

The Denpasar-Makassar connection actually began in 2001 when Nyoman Riasa and Dr. Nurdin Noni, M.Pd., Deputy Rector IV UNM were involved in a series of discussions on educational development in the region. The political situation was not conducive at that time due to Bali bombing in the following year and another one in Jakarta and Makassar ion the following year.

After seven years of no contact at all, Nyoman Riasa met Dr. Akil Mansur, M.Pd, Dean of the Faculty of Languages and Art, during Bahasa Indonesia Congress in November 2008. A brief discussion was then held at the time to reestablish the connection. In late November another discussion was conducted in Ashton Hotel, Denpasar with Dr. Nurdin Noni, M.Pd. followed by another one in Makassar in early January 2009. The final and very intensive discussion was on 14-15 January 2009 conducted in Denpasar.

There are three major programs to be jointly implemented by the two organisations. A solid university-BIPA program will soon be offered to overseas students. The program  will be split into two, i.e., a part of the program will be in Bali and the other one in Makassar. The second program is the delivery of a sound BIPA teacher training program for both Indonesian and overseas participants. Therefore, APBIPA Bali Pre-Certificate Program will soon be incorporated into this program. The third program is designing and implementing a teacher training program on teaching English for Indonesian young learners.

As an immediate follow up for this MOU signing is that in September 2009 the Bali Team will soon deliver their workshop on teaching English for business for UNM Makassar. They will also help UNM team to develop teaching materials for this programs. On 5-10 October 2009 APBIPA Bali Team will run their 4th workshop on BIPA Teacher Pre-Certificate Course.

There are a number of minor educational programs that both institutions could provide including programs that support the implementation of central government initiative on international standard schools (RSBI), translators and interpreters trainings as well as teacher exchange.

Last changed: Aug 29 2009 at 6:38 AM