Depok, August 2nd, 2023. Located at the Building of Universitas Indonesia (UI) Health Sciences Cluster, Depok, West Java (02/08/2023), Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry (FKG) Universitas Indonesia (UI), Dr. drg. Nia Ayu Ismaniati, MDSc., SpOrt(K), and Prof. Syngcuk Kim D.D.S. PhD., Associate Dean for Global Affairs and Advanced Dental Education, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), United States of America (USA), signed a cooperation agreement in the fields of education, research and community service. The collaboration was done as FKG UI’s commitment in supporting the internationalization of UI to improve reputation, and aims to develop opportunities for collaboration in various fields of dentistry.
The success of FKG UI in initiating this collaboration adds to the historical record of UI’s collaborative relationship with partner universities in the US region. This started with the persistent efforts of the Department of Dental Conservation of FKG UI, led by Prof. Dr. drg. Anggraini Margono, Sp.KG, Subsp KE(K), to send prospective teaching staff to continue the Ph.D program there. FKG UI became the first faculty at UI to successfully enter into a cooperation agreement with the University of Pennsylvania, one of the best universities in America that is part of the Ivy League.
The Ivy League is an association of eight universities in the United States. The term “Ivy League” stands for academic excellence and academic elitism. All of its members are the most prestigious universities in the US and are ranked at the top of the list of top US universities. It is from these universities that nearly 80% of research in the field of technology that is developing today is invented by scientists from Ivy League universities, many of whom have even won Nobel Prizes in various fields of science.
“The signing of the Tri Dharma cooperation agreement with the University of Pennsylvania is a big leap for FKG UI in expanding its network at the global level, especially with UPenn’s reputation as the United States Ivy League, this will have a positive impact on the progress of Dentistry in Indonesia, and FKG UI becomes the pioneer,” said the Dean of FKG UI.
Rector of Universitas Indonesia, Prof. Ari Kuncoro, S.E., M.A., Ph.D welcomed the implementation of this cooperation agreement, considering that it is not easy to be able to collaborate with a top university like the University of Pennsylvania. Prof. Ari also hoped that cooperation like this would be followed by other faculties at UI to improve UI’s reputation.
In the signing procession, Prof. Bekir Karabucak, DMD, MS., from UPenn was present, from FKG UI the representatives were the Vice Dean for Education, Research and Student Affairs, Dr. drg. Ria Puspitawati, PBO; Vice Dean for Resources, Ventures and General Administration, drg. Kartini Sally, MM; professors and teaching staff of the Department of Dental Conservation, FKG UI management, students of the Dental Conservation Specialist Dental Education Program.
