News and Updates

Dr Vander Viana (School of Education and Lifelong Learning) has secured more than £200k to lead an innovative research project examining the contribution of English language education to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5 on gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

Entitled ‘Gender-ing ELT: International perspectives, practices, policies’, the project takes place in 10 ODA countries (Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Morocco, Philippines, Ukraine and Vietnam), representing different geographical continents, ODA levels, language policies, and gender inclusion levels. Through the participation of key school stakeholders (pupils and parents, school leaders and teachers, university students and lecturers), the research aims to examine their perspectives and practices, raise their awareness of gender matters and foster their context-sensitive reflections on gender equality in ELT in these ODA countries.

Dr Viana, Associate Professor in Education, said: “I am delighted to be working on this project alongside a large group of experts in the 10 partner countries as well as in the UK, such as my co-PI Dr Aisling O’Boyle from Queen’s University Belfast.”

“Gender has been under-explored in English language education, and this is a unique chance to advance the boundaries of existing research, to trigger social change in a bottom-up, context-sensitive way and to support United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 5.”

The research is funded by the British Council through their Widening Participation Research Grants. These grants are aimed at supporting research in ODA countries that improves the learning and teaching of the English language and that promotes economic development and welfare.

The project counts on the participation of researchers based in ODA countries and with the support of international research associations.

One of the institutional supporters is the National Research Council of the Philippines (NRCP). Dr. Marie Paz Morales, the Chairperson on NRCP Division I in charge of Governmental, Educational, and International Policies said: “Integrating the gender perspective in English Language Teaching (ELT) in the Philippines may lead to significant policies that inform gender mainstreaming in the fields of education, governance and international policies the country advocates. As the pillar of the National Research Council of the Philippines is to promote research in the fields of education, governance, and international policies, studies on ‘gender-ing’ may spark initiatives from other sections and sectors of the Council, and may strengthen and further promote policies on gender sensitivity across fields and disciplines.”

Non-academic stakeholders have also been directly involved in the project from its inception. One example is the Education and Culture Office of Banten Province in Indonesia, which is responsible for organizing and managing early childhood education, elementary education, secondary education, and community education affairs and the management of culture.

Teddy Hendra Pratama, Head of Division for Secondary School Affairs, said: “I unequivocally support Gender-ing ELT and strongly encourage an in-depth study on this topic, particularly in Indonesia. The outcome of this research project will help the government to continuously improve gender equality, and I believe it will result on the fast development of human resources at Banten Province.” 

The project will run for 18 months – from April 2021 to September 2022 – and more information can be found on the project website, by following its Twitter account or by liking the project Facebook page. The team can also be contacted by e-mail at [email protected].

International Office of Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (IO-UNTIRTA) conducted an online meeting with Dr. Aisling O’Boyle, Dr. Vander Viana and Cultuture and Education Department representatives, Silvia Widia, Etty, and Nia. This meeting was held on March 26th, 2021 at 3 P.M. the meeting was an introductory session of Dr. Vander and Dr. Aisling to the Culture and Education Department of Banten. In this initial meeting, they shortly explained the focus of their research in which Indonesia, represent by Banten Province is one of case study among other countries in example Bangladesh, Brazil, Columbia, China, Marocco, Philiphines, Ukraine, and Vietnam, Involved in the research. The research is funded by British Council and starts in April 2021 to 2025.

(March 26^th, 2021) The International Office of Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (IO-UNTIRTA) held an online meeting with Kantor Urusan Internasional Universitas Indonesia (KUI-UI). The meeting was held via zoom. The participants were IO-UNTIRTA team and KUI-UI team. The meeting focused on the international networking, research collaborations, international marketing programs and non-academics programs were being presented by KUI-UI.The Head Office of IO-UNTIRTA Dr. Udi Samanhudi, Ph. D. shared information about UNTIRTA’s international networking progress so far to KUI-UI.  In addition, the international networking development was important for an International Office in Universities because from it, an international office could spread information and initiate collaboration in academics or non-academics areas widely, stated by Head Office KUI-UI drg. Baiduri Widanarko, MKKK, Ph.D. This was highlighted by the KUI-UI during the meeting. From this meeting, the IO-UNTIRTA could build larger international networking progressively in the future. 

(March 26, 2021) The Posco Scholarships public information sharing was held by International Office of Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (IO-UNTIRTA). The purpose of this program was to inform the students of UNTIRTA about Posco Scholarships. The Posco foundation is accepting application for scholarships. The time for the registration is March 17^th, 2021 until April 17^th, 2021. The scholarships value is about 1400$ USD. The Posco foundation representative, Rheya and Nadhira shared the information and the requirements of Posco Scholarship. They told about the academics and non-academics requirements of the scholarship. 122 participants coming from different faculties of UNTIRTA attended this online information session of Posco scholarship.

Rector of the Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (Untirta), Prof. Dr. H. Fatah Sulaiman, S.T., M.T and Executive Director of PT. Krakatau Industrial Estate Cilegon (KIEC), Priyo Budianto signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Development and Utilization of Technology Science and Empowerment of Human Resources at Wisma Krakatau, Cilegon. The event was implementing health protocols. The incorporation both of parties agreed for a period of 3 (three) years covers, in terms of education, training, research, community service and empowerment, apprenticeship and scholarships, assessment of labor needs, and utilization of facilities and infrastructure.

Rector of the Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa (Untirta), Prof. Dr. H. Fatah Sulaiman, S.T., M.T stated that the big corporation of PT Krakatau Steel and its subsidiaries have made great contributions along Untirta’s journey by participating in developing the Faculty of Engineering, supporting capacity building, and supporting development in the Untirta environment. At the same time, Untirta continues to improve the quality of Tri Dharma Perguruan Tinggi services in various aspects according to the order of its founders.

“Universities must implement Kampus Merdeka, so we feel that the relationship with industry must be even more massive.” Said the chancellor. “By implementing it, our students can access the curriculum outside the classroom. Industry is possible to help enrich our students. “

Not only internships, in order to facilitate learning about the development of steel, a special corner called “Krakatau Steel Corner” is planned to be established at the Untirta Sindang Sari Campus. In that corner, visitors can learn about the history of steel technology that was built in Banten Province and its development process, as well as the researches that were developed.

On the other hand, the Director of PT. KIEC, Priyo Budianto said that the gap in education and job opportunities are still a major issue that requires solutions, so that the incorporation that exists between PT. KIEC and Untirta are expected to produce a solution towards the problem. “Hopefully this incorporation which is broad enough in scope can produce a framework of incorporation that can solve labor problems.” He said hopefully. At the signing ceremony, the Vice Chancellor for Cooperation, Information Systems, Strengthening Partnerships and Industrial Services Untirta was also attended, Dr. H. Aceng hasani, M. Pd; Director of Business Development of PT KIEC, Iip Arief Budiman; Director of Human Resources & Finance of PT KIEC, Dazul Herman; Operation and Commercial Director of PT. KIEC, Ridi Djajakusumy; Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Untirta, Prof. Dr. –Ing Asep Ridwan S.T., M.T; and Head of Sub Division of Untirta Cooperation, Ratih Purnamasari, S.E., M.Akt

An MOA (Memorandum of Agreement) signing between the Universiti Teknologi Mara Malaysia’s faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Agriculture of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University was held by the team of International Office of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University on January 21^st, 2021. This MoA signing aims to build as stronger commitment between the two universities to build a stronger cooperation and a better research collaboration in the future especially between academic staff and students in both universities. The signing took place in Faculty of Agriculture’s meeting room of Untirta. This MoA signed by both University at 16.00 (Western Indonesia Time). As a follow up, research collaboration between academic staff from both universities would be started very soon with a research grant funding from both institutions.

The team of International Office of Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa held a “Rector to Rector Meeting” meeting with the team from Monash University, Australia. This meeting was focused initial presentation and discussions of some potential collaborations between the two universities in the future.

The rector of Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Prof Fatah Sulaiman, started the meeting with a short presentation on some potential partnerships such as Student Exchange, Research Collaboration and Research Grant Untirta wish to further develop with partner campuses overses.  The rector emphasized Food Security as one of the priority of joint research collaboration between Untirta and partner universities overseas including Monash University. Prof Sulaiman also mentioned the importance of sharing best practice on digital education with the team from Monash university in the near future.   

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In response to the rector presentation, the team from Monash University through Prof. Andrew M expressed their interest to speak further about these potential partnerships between the two universities. Prof. Andrew further said that his team would arrange another meeting with the Untirta team to discuss further details of the collaboration between the two universities and the potential for MOU signing to mark the official tight between Untirta and Monash university, Australia.

The international team of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University held a meeting with the team from Halic University of Turkey about the potential collaboration between Halic University and Universitas Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa in term of Academics and University’s International Relation. The collaboration forms discussed by the two teams include students and staff exchange, joint research and joint lecture programs for both undergraduate and graduate level.

The two teams agreed to propose an MOU signing in order to mark a more serious mutual relation establishment between Untirta and Halic University. In the following stage, the team of Untirta would send an MOU draft for review by the team from Halic University. Further discussion on this MOU plan between the universities would be arranged in another zoom meeting.