Jakarta – This exploratory initiative brought together academics from Western Sydney University and several Indonesian higher education institutions: Unusia, Universitas Negeri Jakarta (UNJ), UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, and Universitas Paramadina. Representing Unusia, Mohammad Hasan Basri, Ph.D.—an alumnus of Western Sydney University—attended the meeting, which served as an initial platform to map out areas of expertise, strategic issues, and potential forms of cross-institutional and cross-national collaboration.

The prospective partnership offers opportunities to address various contemporary social issues, such as religion and society, social and youth movements, communication, citizenship, and social transformation. The diverse academic backgrounds of the participants pave the way for multidisciplinary research that bridges Indonesian and Australian perspectives.

In addition to joint research and publications, the meeting discussed the possibility of hosting international conferences or symposia in either Indonesia or Australia. Jakarta and Surabaya were identified as potential locations in Indonesia, while Sydney was considered an option for hosting the academic forum in Australia.

For Unusia, participation in this international academic network is part of an effort to expand collaboration and facilitate broader knowledge exchange. It is hoped that this initiative will go beyond the initial meeting and evolve into concrete partnerships involving faculty members, researchers, and students in joint research and publication agendas.

Through such cross-institutional and international collaboration, Unusia continues to strengthen its academic ecosystem and expand its contribution to the development of social sciences that address societal issues at local, national, and global levels.