Summary
Undana met a New Zealand scholarship delegation in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on 23 October 2026 to discuss master's and doctoral scholarships, dual degrees and fast-track programmes. Annytha I. R.
Detha, Undana's first vice-rector for academic affairs, said the university needs international partners to strengthen academic quality, research and staff qualifications, particularly in fields relevant to East Nusa Tenggara's development needs. She identified agriculture, animal husbandry, environmental science and renewable energy—especially geothermal on Flores—as priority areas, aiming to boost the capacity of lecturers and graduates to conduct research and apply technological solutions to local development problems. New Zealand scholarship commissioner Ceri Bryant and national assessment commissioner Indra Gunawan attended, with Undana represented by Happy Y.
Haning, deputy co-ordinator for co-operation affairs. Gunawan said Undana's input would be used to refine scholarship policy and passed on to the New Zealand embassy and Education New Zealand so that specific links could be made with New Zealand universities through the University Connect programme. The two sides also discussed students' English proficiency, particularly the IELTS or TOEFL scores required for international scholarship selection; Undana has set up intensive English courses on campus.
As initial follow-up, the two sides plan to expand promotion of New Zealand scholarships at Undana and explore online meetings and guest lecture programmes with New Zealand academics.
Commentary
The talks between the New Zealand scholarship delegation and Indonesia's Undana may look like educational exchange, but they reflect New Zealand's strategic positioning in Southeast Asia. New Zealand's international education industry is worth about NZ$5 billion a year, yet growth from traditional source markets such as China and India has slowed, making new markets like Indonesia a priority. For NZ SMEs, such partnerships may bring indirect opportunities: Undana's focus on agriculture, animal husbandry, environmental science and geothermal energy aligns with New Zealand's strengths.
New Zealand's geothermal power technology, for example, is among the world's most advanced and supplies about 17 percent of the country's electricity, while Flores has abundant geothermal resources. If academic co-operation eventually leads to technology export, local engineering consultancies and equipment suppliers could take part. On the other hand, the NZ scholarship programme is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and aims to build a network of overseas alumni with ties to New Zealand, which in the long run could help lower trade barriers.
Note, however, that Indonesia's higher education market is dominated by Australia and the United Kingdom, New Zealand's share is limited, scholarship places are few and the path to direct commercial returns is long. SME owners could watch Education New Zealand's University Connect programme; partnerships with regional universities such as Undana may offer entry points for NZ firms in language training, education technology and agricultural technology.
Keywords: New Zealand scholarships, Undana, dual degree, fast-track study, East Nusa Tenggara, geothermal energy, University Connect, guest lecture, IELTS, education co-operation
Source: ANTARA News
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