Visit of the Canadian Embassy Representative for Indonesia to the International University of Papua
Jayapura, April 3, 2023, The academic community of the International University of Papua (IUP) enthusiastically welcomed the arrival of Mr. Antoine Nouvet, First Secretary for Politics for Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, and the Timor-Leste Embassy of Canada for Indonesia, at the IUP Waena campus in Jayapura City. IUP was the first institution visited by Mr. Antoine after his trip from Vanimo, Papua New Guinea. He revealed that he was quite happy because he was finally able to return to Papua after a vacuum of almost 3 years since COVID-19 hit in early 2020. He stated this when visiting and greeting students who were in the classrooms. This brief interaction through introductions between IUP students and one of the Canadian Embassy officials certainly made a special impression, especially for students. IUP students swiftly practice their English in front of native speakers, even though they are just introducing themselves and explaining the reasons behind their interest in choosing a major in a study program that is now entering its second semester.
During this visit, Mr.Antoine also had the opportunity to have in-depth discussions with the IUP leaders, accompanied by IUP Founder Samuel Tabuni. He revealed that his visit to Jayapura was to discuss a number of issues that were of concern to the Canadian Embassy, including environmental conservation, climate change, education, forestry and mangrove conservation, and technology with a number of institutions, one of which was IUP.
The IUP Chancellor, Dr. Izak Morin, apart from welcoming Mr. Antoine's presence with joy, also appreciated the Canadian Embassy's permission to visit and exchange ideas with the IUP academic community regarding a number of main issues that are of concern to IUP as an educational institution based in Papua New Guinea. He explained that this university exists not only to prepare Papuan sons and daughters with various knowledge in accordance with the needs of the times but also to strengthen their identity as Papuan sons and daughters who also preserve values and customs and also know and understand their respective mother tongues. He hopes that this visit can be the start of a collaboration that can be continued in the future.
Deputy Chancellor III Abinus Sama, S.Sos., M.I.R., reiterated the same thing, and at the same time explained that a number of overseas institutions that have now become IUP partners include Highland College, the University of Rode Island, Johnson & Wales University, Dallas Baptist University, and ARIEL University. The Deputy Chancellor for IUP Cooperation and Development has also expressed his willingness to follow up on matters related to all administrative readiness needed to realize potential collaboration between IUPs and educational institutions in Canada, facilitated by the Canadian Embassy for Indonesia in Jakarta.
Furthermore, Korinus Waimbo, as Deputy Chancellor II for General Affairs, Finance, and Personnel Affairs, also had the opportunity to explain to Mr. Antoine the teaching and learning process that is currently taking place at IUP amidst all the existing limitations. However, through hard work, the Foundation is currently making a number of efforts, including planning to build permanent teaching and learning support facilities that will be adequate in the future. He also explained that so far, with the cooperation carried out with various parties, especially through a partnership with Cenderawasih University, a number of limitations could be overcome. Furthermore, he also stated that the IUP, through the Papua Maga Education Foundation (YMEP), which oversees it, since its inception has also facilitated supporting accommodation for students, such as dormitories, transportation, and consumption, especially for students who come from remote areas and have a weak economy, such as those from the Amungme and Komoro ethnic communities supported by YPMAK, the Nduga tribal people supported by the Regional Government of Nduga Regency, as well as a number of tribes from other remote areas in Papua. He also stressed that by constructing an IUP, the hopes of Papuan children to access international standard education can be accessed directly in the land of Papua without having to travel far abroad, which of course is also quite expensive.
Continuing what was stated by Vice Rector II, Dr. Yane Oktovina Ansanay, as Deputy Chancellor I for Academic and Student Affairs, also added an explanation that, as a newly established university, IUP started by focusing on two faculties, namely, the Faculty of Science and Technology and the Faculty of Education and Teacher Training, with a total of five study programs, which have also become a minimum requirement in the establishment of a university, according to regulations in force in Indonesia. According to him, the selection of the two faculties as mentioned above with five study programs was carried out with careful consideration of the management and development needs of Papua's natural and human resources, which are also relevant to the demands and developments of the times. At the end of his presentation, he also stated a number of things related to potential collaborations that could be developed in the future, such as student exchanges, research collaborations, and so on.
At the end of the delivery of the chancellor and vice chancellors, Samuel Tabuni, the founder of the IUP, as well as the Papua Education Maga Foundation (YMEP), the institution that oversees the IUP, stated that developing Papua without developing Papuan people is an impossibility. That is why what is being done through the IUP is expected to encourage the improvement of the quality of qualified Papuan human resources. Therefore, various forms of partnerships that can be traced to support business acceleration are carried out through university collaboration with various elements, including the Government of Canada. He realizes that this job is not simple, especially in the current socio-political situation in Papua. For him, whatever the socio-political situation in Papua, which has been turbulent lately, cannot be used as an excuse not to increase Papuan human resources through education. For him, working on education through this IUP is part of a "humanitarian action" that will continue to be carried out regardless of the conditions.
Hearing the explanation put forward by the leaders and founder of IUP, Mr. Antoine expressed his appreciation and conveyed a number of things that have the potential to be collaborated on in the future, especially regarding the management of modern education, which also focuses on strengthening local communities and strengthening local wisdom values that are inherent in cultural identities. According to him, this is in line with the educational model that has also been developed and has been practiced in the development of education in Canada for many years. He also welcomed the exploration plans for collaboration in student, teacher, and researcher exchanges. The meeting, which lasted approximately four hours, ended with the presentation of souvenirs by the IUP Chancellor to Mr. Antoine and ended with a group photo. Also present at this meeting were Head of Cooperation and Development Bureau Drs. Pieter Upessy, MA; Secretary of LPPM Kalvin Paiki, S. Si., M. Si; Secretary of LP2M Lodwyk N Krimadi, S. Si., M. Si; and Head of Public Relations of IUP Abdiel Fortunatus Tanias & Jastyan. Antonio Lorenzo Wossiry, Assistant Chancellor of IUP, and Mr. Daniel Yaman
Abdiel Fortunatus Tanias
Head of Public Relations of IUP
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