A series of visits in Timor-Leste to open a range of potential collaborations

Progress Report: CHSS Dili Network Event

Visit dates: February 10 – February 14, 2026
UNIVERSIDADE NACIONAL TIMOR LOROSA’E (UNTL)
DILI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (DIT)
INDONESIAN CULTURAL CENTER (PBI) IN TIMOR-LESTE
KAGAMA (KELUARGA ALUMNI UGM/UGM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION)
TIMOR-LESTE MUSEUM
RECONNECTING WITH TIMOR-LESTE’S YOUTH

Universitas Gadjah Mada’s (UGM) visit to Timor-Leste was part of a strategic effort to expand its cooperation networks and strengthen collaboration in academic, cultural, and educational diplomacy with a range of partner institutions. Partners engaged during the visit included Universitas Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL), the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT), UNTL’s Center for Arts and Culture Studies (SECA), the Dili Museum, the Pusat Budaya Indonesia (PBI/Indonesian Cultural Center), and Kagama (UGM Alumni Association).

The delegation also held a one-on-one meeting with Mica Barreto Soares, PhD, a member of CHSS Timor-Leste, to explore opportunities for collaborative teaching and research. In addition, the delegation met with representatives of Timor-Leste’s younger generation to share information about opportunities to pursue further study at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

• Prof. Dr. Mutiah Amini, M.Hum. (Head, Bachelor’s Program in History)
• Dr. Novi Siti Kussuji Indrastuti, M.Hum. (Head, Bachelor’s Program in Indonesian Language and Literature)
• R. Rucitarahma Ristiawan, M.Sc., Ph.D. (Faculty member, Bachelor’s Program in Tourism)
• Rosi Setyorini, S.H., M.Sc. (Head of Working Team, SPMRU UGM)
• Adwidya Susila Yoga, S.S., M.A. (Journal and Publishing Manager)

The UGM delegation was received by the Rector of UNTL (Prof. Dr. Eng. Joviano António da Costa, M.Eng), the Vice Rector for Cooperation, the founders, the Chair of the Cultural Studies Program, the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, the Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, and several faculty representatives at UNTL.

1. The importance of strengthening collaboration across multiple areas, including education, research, and community service, particularly in the arts and culture.
2. UNTL’s commitment to strengthen university-to-university (U2U) partnerships, especially in culture, language, tourism, and related disciplines with strong potential for mutual benefit.
3. The importance of UGM’s support in developing research activities at the Timor-Leste Center for Arts and Culture Studies, which was established at UNTL.
4. UNTL emphasized the need to strengthen human-resource capacity.
5. The need to promptly proceed with signing an MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) between the Rector of UNTL and the Rector of UGM so that the cooperation initiatives already underway can be realized as soon as possible. This MoU would also serve as an essential first step to ensure the legally compliant, systematic, and sustainable implementation of subsequent collaboration programs across the areas to be pursued. This collaboration aligns with the commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through strengthened academic capacity and knowledge exchange; SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) through competency-based tourism sector development; and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through strengthening international cooperation networks.

The Timor-Leste Center for Arts and Culture Studies was established at the end of 2025 and currently has a structured organizational system in place. The Center is supported by facilities and infrastructure for the development of Timor-Leste’s arts and culture; these resources are housed and managed in the Center’s office.

The Head of the Timor-Leste Center for Arts and Culture Studies is Celine, an alumna of Universitas Gadjah Mada, who is actively leading the Center’s development. Accordingly, in coordination with Celine, the parties agreed to the following:

• Cooperate to support the sustainable management of the newly established Center through collaborative research between UNTL and UGM.
• Facilitate opportunities for Center staff to pursue further study at UGM.

Mica Barreto Soares, PhD, is a member of CHSS Timor-Leste, an alumna of Swinburne University of Technology (Australia), and a faculty member at UNTL and DIT. In a one-on-one meeting with Mica Barreto Soares, the following points were discussed:

• The importance of equitable teaching collaboration between UGM and UNTL/DIT, given the countries’ similar historical backgrounds. The parties also discussed co-developing and/or co-delivering key courses within relevant programs at UGM, UNTL, and DIT, such as Southeast Asian History and related subjects.
• The importance of research collaboration between UGM and UNTL/DIT to advance social sciences and humanities scholarship in both countries.

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Dili Institute of Technology (DIT)

The visit to the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT) was conducted in conjunction with the meeting agenda with Kagama Timor-Leste, as most of the institute’s leaders are alumni of Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). During the meeting, the UGM delegation was received by Aderita Mariana Takeleb, M.Sc., Vice Rector for Academic Affairs at DIT, accompanied by Manual Fong, PhD, former Rector of DIT.

• UGM student internship program
• The Indonesian Cultural Center offers opportunities for UGM students to undertake internships focused on teaching Indonesian culture, arts, and traditions to local communities.
• Development of a “UGM Corner” at the Indonesian Cultural Center
• PBI welcomed the idea of establishing an information space (“UGM Corner”) featuring infographics, educational promotional materials, and a brief UGM profile. The UGM Corner is expected to increase UGM’s visibility in Timor-Leste.
• Donation of Indonesian book collections
• The UGM delegation also discussed plans to donate books published in Indonesia to enrich the Indonesian Cultural Center’s library collection, thereby strengthening literacy, access to information, and public understanding in Timor-Leste of developments in Indonesian culture.
• Facilitation of research collaboration and community service
• PBI expressed its readiness to facilitate UGM collaboration with relevant institutions in Timor-Leste in the areas of research, community service, and cultural diplomacy initiatives.

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Indonesian Cultural Center (PBI) in Timor_Leste

The UGM delegation was received by Mr. Jose Paulo, a staff member of the Indonesian Cultural Center. The meeting took place in a constructive atmosphere and underscored the potential for collaboration between UGM and the Center to strengthen academic and cultural relations between Indonesia and Timor-Leste. During the discussion, the following strategic collaboration opportunities were identified:

• UGM student internship program
• The Indonesian Cultural Center offers opportunities for UGM students to undertake internships focused on teaching Indonesian culture, arts, and traditions to local communities.
• Development of a “UGM Corner” at the Indonesian Cultural Center
• PBI welcomed the idea of establishing an information space (“UGM Corner”) featuring infographics, educational promotional materials, and a brief UGM profile. The UGM Corner is expected to increase UGM’s visibility in Timor-Leste.
• Donation of Indonesian book collections
• The UGM delegation also discussed plans to donate books published in Indonesia to enrich the Indonesian Cultural Center’s library collection, thereby strengthening literacy, access to information, and public understanding in Timor-Leste of developments in Indonesian culture.
• Facilitation of research collaboration and community service
• PBI expressed its readiness to facilitate UGM collaboration with relevant institutions in Timor-Leste in the areas of research, community service, and cultural diplomacy initiatives.

This visit reaffirmed UGM’s commitment to playing an active role in education and cultural diplomacy in Southeast Asia. In addition, the meeting with the Indonesian Cultural Center opened long-term opportunities for multidisciplinary collaborative initiatives with broad social impact.

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Kagama (Keluarga Alumni UGM/UGM Alumni Association)

The meeting between the UGM delegation and Kagama Timor-Leste was facilitated by the management of the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT). The meeting adopted the theme “Learning from the Past, Reflecting on the Present, for Our Better Shared Future” as a foundation for collaboration.

The meeting was attended by key Kagama figures actively engaged in Timor-Leste, including the Chair of KAGAMA Timor-Leste, Manual Fong, PhD (former Minister of Tourism of Timor-Leste and former Rector of DIT); Aderita Mariana Takeleb, M.Sc., Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of DIT; Mr. Napoleon, KAGAMA management for the fiscal area; the Dean of the Faculty of Tourism at DIT; Mica Barreto Soares, PhD, Director of the MBA Program at DIT; Celine (Head of the UNTL Center); and lecturers and researchers from UNTL’s Faculty of Social Sciences who have written extensively on Indonesia–Timor-Leste relations.

The meeting produced several short-term follow-up actions:

• Collaboration Training on article writing (both technical aspects and substantive content), journal management (establishment and production), and book publishing.
• Collaboration between UGM and KAGAMA Timor-Leste on training in media news writing (humas) and public relations.
• Organizing a sports tourism event in the form of a heritage fun walk, involving UNTL and DIT students as the organizing committee.
• A Literature Festival through an international KKN (Kuliah Kerja Nyata/Student Service Learning) at UGM and in border areas, while also responding to a request from the Education and Culture Attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Timor-Leste regarding arts training (gamelan, Indonesia–Timor-Leste dance collaboration, and folktale writing).

UGM and KAGAMA Timor-Leste also agreed to adopt a cultural approach as the basis for cross-institutional cooperation among higher education institutions in Timor-Leste. This synergy is expected to expand the public benefits of knowledge, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals.

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Timor-Leste Museum

A visit to the Timor-Leste National Museum was included because the Museum is an official institution that preserves the shared collective memory of two nations, Indonesia and Timor-Leste.

During the visit, the UGM delegation was guided by the Museum’s senior educator and held a discussion on Indonesia–Timor-Leste diplomatic relations toward an equitable and sustainable future. The delegation was also guided by Mr. Pedro, who presented an overview of Timor-Leste’s history, including the period of Portuguese rule. With warm hospitality, Mr. Pedro described the country’s historical milestones and key events.

Reconnecting with Timore-Leste’s Youth

The UGM delegation also held an informal meeting with several young people from various professional backgrounds who had previously pursued undergraduate studies in Yogyakarta. During the meeting, the delegation shared information on opportunities for further study and research collaboration between UGM and institutions in Timor-Leste, to be disseminated more broadly among Timor-Leste’s younger generation.

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Concluding remarks

This Universitas Gadjah Mada visit was supported and sponsored by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) as the primary sponsor of the Cultivating the Humanities and Social Sciences and Supporting Under-Represented Scholars of Asia (CHSS) initiative. CHSS is a transnational inclusivity agenda initiated by the Association for Asian Studies (AAS).

This networking event was organized to explore cooperation opportunities in Timor-Leste. The delegation, drawn from UGM’s Faculty of Cultural Sciences and the Quality Assurance and Reputation Unit, was led by Prof. Dr. Mutiah Amini. Over two days in Timor-Leste, the team conducted an intensive series of visits to Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL), the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT), the Indonesian Cultural Center at the Indonesian Embassy (Timor-Leste), the UNTL Center, and KAGAMA Timor-Leste. These meetings resulted in several key follow-up agreements:

• Pursuit of an MoU between UGM and UNTL as an umbrella framework for cross-institutional and cross-country cooperation.
• Potential research and publication collaboration in tourism, arts and culture, and education.
• Facilitation for UNTL to support faculty members pursuing further study in UGM graduate programs.
• Training on article writing (both technical aspects and substantive content) and journal management (establishment and production).
• Collaboration between UGM and KAGAMA Timor-Leste on training in media news writing and public relations.
• Organizing a sports tourism event in the form of a heritage fun walk, involving UNTL and DIT students as the organizing committee.
• An Arts, Culture, and Literature Festival through an international KKN at UGM and in border areas.
• Arts and culture training programs (gamelan, Indonesia – Timor-Leste dance collaboration, and folktale book writing) at the Indonesian Embassy in Timor-Leste.

This series of visits in Timor-Leste opened a range of potential collaborations while also strengthening historical ties and long-term academic synergy among institutions in both countries.