Perak, August 14, 2026 — The Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (SPs UNY) continued its series of international academic visits with a visit to Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Malaysia, on Thursday, August 14, 2026. The visit, held at UPSI’s Institute of Graduate Studies (Institut Pengajian Siswazah/IPS), focused specifically on developing dual degree program collaboration between SPs UNY and UPSI.

The SPs UNY delegation consisted of Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, M.Kes., AIFO., Director of SPs UNY, accompanied by Dr. phil. Rahmatul Irfan, M.T., Coordinator of the Master’s Program in Technology and Vocational Education (PTK) at UNY, and Dr. Ezi Apino, M.Pd., staff member of the Research and Educational Evaluation Laboratory at SPs UNY. The delegation was welcomed by Prof. Dr. Azlan Bin Kamari, Deputy Dean for Academic Development and Graduation Affairs, and Dr. Wong Yoke Seng, Deputy Dean for Student Affairs, Alumni, and Publication. The meeting was also attended by Prof. Dr. Jaffry Bin Zakaria, Dean of the Faculty of Sport Science and Coaching, along with several IPS UPSI staff members.

The meeting provided an important opportunity to discuss concrete steps toward developing a dual degree program that would offer academic benefits to students from both institutions. Discussions focused on the various aspects that need to be prepared to ensure effective implementation, including curriculum alignment, program implementation mechanisms, and other technical and academic requirements. Both parties agreed that further structured discussions would be necessary to develop the dual degree program. Accordingly, the meeting’s outcomes will be followed up through communication and technical discussions between the relevant units and study programs. These efforts are expected to produce a clear, practical cooperation framework that complies with the academic regulations of both universities.

During the meeting, Prof. Siswantoyo also shared positive experiences from the successful implementation of a previous dual degree collaboration between UNY and UPSI. The program was held as part of the celebration of UPSI’s centenary and involved students from UNY’s Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences (FIKK) and UPSI’s Faculty of Sport Science and Coaching. The program’s success provides a valuable foundation and a good-practice model that could be extended to other academic disciplines. Building on this experience, SPs UNY hopes to further develop and expand the dual degree collaboration model, particularly across study programs within SPs UNY. The collaboration is expected not only to provide students with opportunities for cross-border academic experiences but also to enhance learning quality, academic networks, and the international exposure of the participating study programs.

The visit to UPSI was also part of SPs UNY’s staff mobility program. Through this activity, SPs UNY staff had the opportunity to learn about UPSI’s academic environment and postgraduate education management while exchanging experiences with the partner institution’s leaders and academic community. These interactions are expected to broaden their perspectives and support the development of SPs UNY’s institutional capacity.

For SPs UNY, exploring a dual degree collaboration with UPSI is part of its strategy to expand international networks while developing more concrete and sustainable forms of cooperation. With their positive track record, both institutions have a strong foundation for extending collaboration to other academic fields. Through systematic follow-up, the partnership between SPs UNY and UPSI is expected to produce high-quality international academic programs that deliver tangible benefits to students, lecturers, and the academic communities of both institutions. (EA)