Jakarta – The State Islamic University (UIN) Sulthan Thaha Saifuddin Jambi has stepped up efforts to expand its international partnerships by visiting the Royal Thai Embassy in Jakarta.
On 13 May 2026, a delegation from UIN Jambi led by Dion Ginanto, Ph.D, Coordinator of the Centre for International Services and Cooperation, and Ali Ubaidah, S.TP, from the university’s cooperation division, met with senior Thai diplomats. The embassy was represented by Mrs. Hathaichanok Riddhagni Frumau, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission, Ms. Samita Noonpakdee, First Secretary, and Ms. Rian Juwita, Education Assistant.
The meeting focused on strengthening academic collaboration, with Thailand currently the second-largest source of international students at UIN Jambi after Malaysia. The university has already established partnerships with four Thai institutions, but officials said more work was needed to expand both the scale and quality of cooperation.
Discussions included opportunities for joint programmes, student support, and cultural exchange. Ms. Samita Noonpakdee highlighted the role of the Association of Thailand Students in Indonesia (ATSI), which organises annual gatherings for Thai students across the country. “We have not yet had participants from UIN Jambi, and we hope to see them join in the future,” she said.
Ambassadorial staff expressed enthusiasm about the growing presence of Thai students in Jambi. “We are pleased to learn that ten of our students are currently studying at UIN Jambi. We look forward to visiting Jambi to meet them, hopefully next year,” said Mrs. Hathaichanok, representing the embassy.
Dion Ginanto conveyed greetings from UIN Jambi’s leadership and emphasised the university’s commitment to deepening ties. “Our rector hopes the Royal Thai Embassy will help broaden cooperation with more universities in Thailand. We would be honoured to welcome the ambassador to Jambi in the near future,” he said.
The meeting, held in a warm and semi-formal atmosphere, was marked by lively discussion and Thai coffee served as a cultural touch. Both sides agreed to pursue concrete steps to strengthen academic and cultural collaboration.
