Indonesia Strategic Collaboration Visit Project

School of Social Innovation, Mae Fah Luang University

Jakarta & Yogyakarta, Indonesia | 7–12 July 2026

The School of Social Innovation, Mae Fah Luang University (MFU), successfully conducted the Indonesia Strategic Collaboration Visit Project in Jakarta and Yogyakarta from 7–12 July 2026, led by Dean Asst. Prof. Dr. Thanikun Chantra, accompanied by Assistant to the Dean Asst. Prof. Dr. Maya Dania, and BAID Program Representative Dr. Sawang Meesaeng. The visit was organized to strengthen international academic partnerships, expand collaborative research and student mobility, and promote knowledge exchange on social innovation for sustainable development.

The first academic mission was held at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Law, Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), where both institutions initiated discussions on a future Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dean and faculty representatives. The visit also featured a public lecture entitled "Social Innovation and Sustainable Development Goals: Lessons from Thailand," delivered by Dean Asst. Prof. Dr. Thanikun Chantra and Dr. Sawang Meesaeng, creating an active platform for academic dialogue and networking between scholars from Thailand and Indonesia.

The delegation then continued to Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Yogyakarta, where the School of Social Innovation, Mae Fah Luang University and the Faculty of Philosophy, Universitas Gadjah Mada officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking an important milestone in institutional cooperation. The program was followed by another public lecture on "Social Innovation and Sustainable Development Goals: Lessons from Thailand," encouraging interdisciplinary discussions on sustainable development, regional collaboration, and innovative approaches to addressing contemporary social challenges. Subsequent meetings focused on practical implementation of the partnership, including student mobility, joint research, international publications, and faculty collaboration.

As part of the strategic agenda, the delegation also conducted a field visit in Yogyakarta to prepare for the Young Leadership Program 2027, assessing potential learning sites and strengthening partnerships with local stakeholders. This preparatory visit aims to provide future participants with experiential learning opportunities that connect leadership development, community engagement, and sustainable development in real-world settings.

This strategic visit achieved several significant outcomes, including the expansion of institutional partnerships in Indonesia, the establishment of a formal collaboration with UGM through the MoU signing, strengthened academic networks with Indonesian universities, and the development of concrete plans for collaborative research, student exchange, faculty mobility, international publications, and the Young Leadership Program 2027. Beyond institutional agreements, the visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of both countries to advancing social innovation as a driver of sustainable and inclusive regional development.

The initiative directly contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4 (Quality Education) through international academic cooperation and knowledge exchange; SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by strengthening cross-border institutional collaboration; SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) through the promotion of social innovation and research partnerships; and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by fostering inclusive regional collaboration and capacity building across Southeast Asia.

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