Yogyakarta — The Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Yogyakarta (SPs UNY) held an Assembly Meeting as part of the International Conference on Multi-dimensional Governance and Educational Transformation (ICMGET) 2026 on Friday, August 28, 2026. Held in the Auditorium on the third floor of the Sugeng Mardiyono Building at SPs UNY, the meeting began at 3:00 p.m. Western Indonesia Time (WIB) and brought together leaders and academics from graduate schools and universities across Asia to discuss strengthening networks and collaboration in postgraduate education.

The meeting marked an important step toward realizing the vision of SPs UNY Director, Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, M.Kes., AIFO., to transform graduate schools into increasingly interconnected, world-class institutions. One of the main agenda items was the proposed establishment of AGSAN (Asian Graduate School Association Networks) as a platform for collaboration among graduate schools across Asia.

The forum was attended in person by leaders and academics from various higher education institutions. Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) was represented by Prof. Dr. Ridzwan bin Che Rus, Dean of the Institute of Graduate Studies. From The Master's Theological Seminary International in the Philippines, the meeting welcomed Prof. Dr. Norberto Paranga, Jr., Dean of the Graduate School, while Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) was represented by Prof. Dr. Nor Balkish Binti Zakaria.

Representatives from Universitas Pasundan (UNPAS) included Prof. Dr. Azhar Affandi, S.E., M.Sc., Rector of UNPAS; Prof. Dr. Bambang Heru Purwanto, M.S., Director of the Graduate School; Prof. Dr. Yaya Mulyana Abdul Azis, M.Si., Deputy Director I for Academic Affairs; Prof. Dr. Atang Hermawan, S.E., MSIE., Ak., Deputy Director II for Finance and Human Resources; and Prof. Dr. H. Horas Djulius, S.E.

Universitas Nurul Huda (UNUHA) was represented by Mukhamad Fathoni, M.Pd.I., Rector of UNUHA; Dedy Mardiansyah, M.Pd., Deputy Chair of the Nurul Huda Islamic Boarding School Foundation; Dr. Ade Rosad, M.Pd., Vice Rector IV; and Lailatul Fitriyah, M.Pd., Dean of the Faculty of Education. Also in attendance were Prof. Dr. Ketut Suma, M.S., Deputy Director II of Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha (UNDIKSHA); Prof. Syamsul Bachri, M.Sc., Ph.D., Director of the Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Malang; and Junaidi Budi Prihanto, S.KM., M.KM., Ph.D., Deputy Director of the Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Surabaya.

Universitas Negeri Medan (UNIMED) was represented by Prof. Budi Valianto, Director of the Graduate School; Drs. Eddiyanto, Ph.D., Deputy Director for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Cooperation; and Prof. Dr. Abdurrahman Adisaputera, M.Hum., Deputy Director for Finance and General Affairs. Joining the meeting online was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wan Marzuki Bin Wan Jaafar, Dean of the Faculty of Educational Studies at Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Representing SPs UNY were Director Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, M.Kes., AIFO.; Deputy Director for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Research, and Cooperation Prof. Dr. Dyah Kumalasari, M.Pd.; Deputy Director for Planning, General Affairs, and Finance Prof. Dr. Yudanto, M.Pd.; and coordinators of study programs within SPs UNY.

Building Graduate School Networks across Asia

Discussions were active and constructive, focusing on how graduate schools could establish stronger networks to address the evolving dynamics of global higher education. During the forum, participants agreed on the proposal to establish AGSAN as a platform connecting postgraduate education institutions from various Asian countries.

Prof. Dr. Ridzwan bin Che Rus expressed his support for the establishment of AGSAN. He also proposed that the network could eventually expand to include more countries, opening up the possibility of developing AGSAN+ as an extension of international collaboration.

One key idea that emerged was the importance of jointly developing quality standards and improvement mechanisms. Through this network, universities are expected to share best practices, strengthen institutional capacity, and create opportunities for peer assessment, allowing institutions to learn from one another and continuously improve their quality.

Participants also proposed that AGSAN should extend beyond the program or faculty level and receive broader support from universities and relevant stakeholders. Strengthening the network at a wider institutional level is expected to create opportunities for strategic initiatives in postgraduate education development.

Toward More Structured Collaboration

SPs UNY Director Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, M.Kes., AIFO., further developed ideas for strengthening the network, including a proposal to use the name ASEAN Graduate School Ranking. This proposal formed part of the discussion on how interinstitutional collaboration could support the development of standards, quality, and competitiveness among graduate schools in the region.

However, proposals concerning AGSAN’s programs, projects, membership mechanisms, requirements, and future development will be discussed and formulated further. SPs UNY will also prepare additional discussions on membership arrangements and the requirements needed to ensure the network’s sustainability.

The proposal to establish AGSAN received support from all participants attending the forum. Prof. Dr. Ketut Suma, M.S., expressed his support, noting that the initiative aligned with the vision of Universitas Pendidikan Ganesha. Similar support was voiced by representatives of Universitas Negeri Malang and Universitas Pasundan, as well as Assoc. Prof. Dr. Wan Marzuki Bin Wan Jaafar of Universiti Putra Malaysia.

Following this agreement, all institutions represented at the Assembly Meeting were designated as founding members of AGSAN. This agreement marked an initial step toward establishing a network expected to develop into a strategic collaboration platform for graduate schools across Asia.

The meeting concluded with a shared understanding that concrete AGSAN programs and projects would be discussed in subsequent stages. The Assembly Meeting therefore served not only as a forum for exchanging ideas but also as the starting point for an academic network focused on quality improvement, international collaboration, and strengthening the competitiveness of postgraduate education.

The establishment of AGSAN also represents part of SPs UNY’s efforts to transform graduate schools into a more open, collaborative, and globally oriented higher education network. Through cross-institutional and cross-border collaboration, the network is expected to provide a shared platform for exchanging best practices, strengthening academic quality, and advancing postgraduate education that can respond to future challenges.