The meeting was opened by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia for Japan and Micronesia Federation, Heri Akhmadi. Ambassador Heri explained that this meeting focused on cooperation in the fields of art and design. In this meeting, ITB was represented by the Head of Cooperation Bureau, Taufiq Hidayat, the Head of International Cooperation Division, Andryanto Rikrik Kusmara, the Deputy Dean of FSRD Affairs, Nurdian Ichsan, and lecturers from Human and Interior Research Group, Yuki Agriardi Koswara. While JUAD was represented their Representatives of International Affairs, Akiko Hayashi, Maiko Yamazika, and Koyuki Kitahara.

"This cooperation is very important because it involves cultural diplomacy in addition to educational diplomacy. Of course, in the science, mathematics, and technological field there have been many mutually beneficial collaborations between Indonesian and Japanese educational institutes. However, in the fine art and design field, this has the chance to be the first," said Ambassador Heri as quoted in a press release from the Ministry of Education and Culture number 742/sipres/A6/XI/2021.

Dubes Heri also encouraged JUAD to enlist itself as a Program Partner of IISMA (Indonesia International Student Mobility Awards) Kemendikbudristek so that the students from the Faculty of Art and Design (FSRD) ITB can register themselves through this program.

As is known, JUAD is the oldest university in Japan in the field of fine arts and design that only accepts female students in their undergraduate program, and this is in accordance with the current state of the ITB FSRD undergraduate program, which according to Dean Rikrik, is dominated by females. The ambassador's support was welcomed by JUAD representatives who were present on the occasion.

JUAD and ITB then presented their institution profile and continued with a discussion on the format of the cooperation and plans for future joint activities.

The Indonesian Attaché for Education and Culture in Tokyo, Yusli Wardianto, said "The Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo always strive to improve the relation between Indonesia and Japan in various fields, including in the field of education. We are always excited to arrange a meeting between educational and research institutions in Japan and Indonesia," said Yusli during the meeting.

As explained by Ambassador Heri, in terms of reputation, both ITB with FSRD and JUAD are both educational institutes that are very prominent in the fields of art and design. Both also have similar study programs.

"To compare it with matchmaking, I got potential and equal partner. This collaboration can further continue to not only be limited to staff or student exchange but can also in the form exhibition of art collections that were produced by their students and lecturers. So there is a touch of cultural diplomacy as well," said Atdikbud Yusli, who visited JUAD's facilities and laboratories with the Chair of the Tokyo Women's Association, Nuning Heri Akhmadi.

Besides being accompanied by Atdikbud Yusli, the chairman of the DWP Tokyo, Nuning Heri Akhmadi, who is the initiator of this collaboration, was also present during the meeting.

Translator: Favian Aldilla R (Civil Engineering, 2019)