The Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (SPs UNY) welcomed a delegation from Shanghai Normal University (SHNU) on Monday, 12 January 2025, at the Executive Meeting Room. The visit aimed to explore and strengthen academic cooperation, with a particular focus on education. In attendance were the Director and Deputy Directors of SPs UNY, the Coordinators of Doctoral Study Programs, and the International Affairs and Partnership Unit (UUIK) team.

The SHNU delegation consisted of Zhang Yejiang, Shi Zhen, Hu Shuangshuang, Wang Zhenghai, and Huayu Shen. The visit built upon an already established relationship between UNY and SHNU, which includes ongoing collaboration with the UNESCO Teacher Education Centre (UNESCO TEC) and an active student exchange program. One SHNU student, Huayu Shen, has been taking part in the exchange program at UNY for the past six months.

Both institutions discussed a broad range of potential collaboration opportunities spanning SHNU and the 12 study programs within the UNY Graduate School. Key areas of interest included joint research initiatives, co-authored publications, student and faculty exchanges, and the development of shared academic programs.

Director of SPs UNY, Prof. Siswantoyo, M.Kes., AIFO., highlighted that most programs at the UNY Graduate School are education-focused, making the partnership with SHNU a natural and strategically valuable fit. "Given our shared commitment to education, collaboration between SPs UNY and SHNU is highly relevant, both in terms of research and academic program development," he remarked.

SHNU representative Wang Zhenghai proposed deepening collaboration within SPs UNY's doctoral programs, specifically in the areas of comparative education, technological education, and early childhood education, a suggestion that was warmly received by the SPs UNY leadership.

Building on this, Prof. Dr. Moch. Bruri Triyono, Coordinator of the Doctoral Study Program in Vocational and Technical Education (PTK), put forward the idea of establishing a dual degree program (co-tutelle) as a practical starting point. The scheme was seen as particularly attractive due to its flexible, research-based structure, which eliminates the need for full curriculum alignment. Under this model, one to two students from each institution would spend one to two semesters studying at the partner university, supported by co-supervisors from both sides.

This meeting is seen as a meaningful first step toward a deeper strategic partnership between SPs UNY and SHNU, with a shared vision of advancing research-driven doctoral education and expanding international academic collaboration.