The Graduate School (SPs) of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta held a Welcoming Ceremony on Monday, 18 May 2026, at the 3rd Floor Hall of the Sugeng Mardiyono Building. The event was organized to welcome Assoc. Prof. Shei-Chau Wang, Ed.D., from Northern Illinois University as part of the Graduate School’s ongoing efforts to strengthen international academic collaboration. The program was supported through the EQUITY THE Impact Ranking funding scheme, which aims to promote global partnerships and enhance the quality of sustainable higher education.

The ceremony was attended by the Director of the Graduate School, Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, coordinators of study programs, and representatives from the International Affairs and Partnership Unit (UUIK). In his opening remarks, Prof. Siswantoyo highlighted the strategic importance of international academic engagement in advancing the quality of education, research, and scholarly collaboration within the Graduate School.

Assoc. Prof. Wang’s visit formed part of a joint supervision initiative involving Dwi Wulandari, a doctoral student from the Educational Research and Evaluation (PEP) Study Program. Beyond supporting the development of the student’s doctoral research, the program also provided a valuable platform for academic exchange and the exploration of broader collaborative opportunities between the Graduate School and Northern Illinois University.

The discussion session focused on potential areas of cooperation, including collaborative research projects and opportunities to strengthen international scholarly publications. The meeting unfolded in a dynamic academic atmosphere, fostering meaningful exchanges of ideas on research development, interdisciplinary collaboration, and future institutional partnerships.

Through initiatives such as this, the Graduate School continues to reinforce its commitment to the internationalization of higher education through sustained global engagement. The involvement of international academic partners is expected to open new avenues for collaboration in research, scientific publication, and academic capacity building, generating long-term benefits for both institutions.