Strategi Perguruan Tinggi Perbatasan dalam Mengembangkan Kerjasama Luar Negeri(Studi Kasus IAIN Pontianak dan Unimas Sarawak)

Abstract

This study aims to identify strategies for border-region higher education institutions to establish international cooperation, using IAIN Pontianak and UNIMAS, Sarawak, Malaysia, as a case study. Both higher education institutions are located in the border region of two countries, namely Indonesia and Malaysia. The two higher education institutions are bound by a cooperation agreement (MoU) and have followed it up by conducting intensive program sharing through 2024, including visiting lectures, student mobility, research, community service, international seminars, and several other activities. The strategies of border-region higher education institutions in establishing international cooperation, using IAIN Pontianak and UNIMAS Sarawak as a case study, encompass three aspects, namely the formulation of international cooperation strategies, the implementation of international cooperation strategies, and the evaluation of international cooperation strategies. First, IAIN Pontianak and UNIMAS formulated international cooperation strategies by understanding and carefully examining the higher education institution's vision as a dream and aspiration to be achieved so they could formulate strategic directions and steps optimally. Second, implementing international cooperation strategies by both higher education institutions involves human resources in international activities coordinated by the IO. A notable form of cooperation occurred in 2023, when IAIN Pontianak brought together PTKINs throughout Indonesia, spearheaded by the Ministry of Religious Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, to sign MoUs with UNIMAS and UiTM. Third, the evaluation of international cooperation strategies involves routine evaluations conducted annually and after each activity, all of which are reported by the leadership or relevant parties.