The discussion was opened by remarks from Head of the UPNVJ International Affairs Office, who delivered a welcome address and expressed hope that the webinar would pave the way for UPNVJ to explore opportunities for further studies and academic collaboration in the Netherlands. The Rector of UPNVJ also gave a speech, highlighting the Netherlands as one of the countries with the best education systems in the world, attracting international students for their studies. It was noted that the Netherlands would be a key target for UPNVJ in strengthening its cooperation network and seeking study opportunities.

The session continued with a speech from the Indonesian Ambassador to The Hague, who emphasized that academic collaboration is a primary focus of cooperation for the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague with various higher education institutions. It was explained that the Netherlands, through the embassy, continually strives to establish various educational collaborations with Indonesia. It was mentioned that there are approximately 2,000 Indonesian students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate studies in the Netherlands, either through scholarships or self-financed by their respective universities.

The Education Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague presented an overview of the education system in the Netherlands. It was explained that in terms of research, Dutch universities typically employ Ph.D. students with funding amounting to 250,000 Euros or 4 billion Rupiah per year. The funding for such research is usually provided by the LPDP scholarships or EU Horizon Funding. The Indonesian Embassy in The Hague also focuses on various Indonesian universities that have not yet established direct communication with Dutch universities. Some of the programs between the Indonesian Embassy in The Hague and various Dutch universities include student conferences and sending Ph.D. students for research.

It was explained that some types of collaborations favored by Dutch universities include joint master’s and doctoral degrees, double degrees, and the admission of Ph.D. scholarship students in the Netherlands through research programs. The Indonesian Embassy in The Hague stated that they are ready to facilitate communication between UPNVJ and universities in the Netherlands.