Before the signing ceremony, the Rector of UNHAS, Prof. Dr. Jamaluddin Jompa, M.Sc. or Prof. JJ, hosted lunch for NIU delegates and UNHAS officials on the 8th floor.
Accompanying the Rector, in signing the MoU were all Vice-Rectors, Deans, Heads of Institutions and other lecturers and staff. Meanwhile, accompanying the President, were Prof Dr Eric Jones (Executive Director of Global Initiatives), Prof Dr George Middlemist, (Chief Financial Officer), Dr Bob Brinkmann (Dean of NIU College of Liberal Arts and Sciences), Catherine Middlemist and Gazly (Police Interpol).
The MoU signing ceremony began with presentation of UNHAS video profile and continued with a welcome remark by Prof. JJ said, “I will express my happiness of hosting the President of NIU and team. Allow me to describe the meaning of the UNHAS logo, which shows the head of a rooster. It represents the fight of Sultan Hasanuddin towards the colonies by the Dutch!”
Prof JJ also explained that UNHAS played an important role not only in education but also in sciences.
In addition, UNHAS and NIU represented not only two big universities but also two big different countries. He then continued with introducing all UNHAS officials joining the ceremony.
Meanwhile, the President of NIU expressed her gratitude for being here at UNHAS.
“The presence of UNHAS officials in this ceremony particularly during the weekend really meant a lot to me. I am very glad to meet the Rector and all staff and see this moment as a very potential partner.”
She also explained the NIU logo which shows a husky, one type of dog. The husky is well known for its directed character to pursue its goals in life. She also welcomed UNHAS as a part of the husky family.
The ceremony then moved on to the discussion and was facilitated by Dr. Ansariadi (Director of Partnership). Dr. Ansariadi explained three areas of the collaboration. One of which was Bahasa Indonesia untuk Penutur Asing (BIPA) or Indonesia Language for Non Native Speakers teaching and learning. In the future, NIU students and academic staff would learn Bahasa Indonesia and would be handled by UNHAS Language Service Center.
Before the ceremony ended, both universities did a token exchange UNHAS and NUI delegates then proceeded to Balla Lompoa (The Great House), a house that functions as a palace of the
Kingdom of Gowa when in power a long time ago.
The Balla Lompoa now transforms into a museum showing all artifacts that were used to be utilized by the Kingdom. Both delegates continued enjoying the Losari Beach by sailing Phinisi around Makassar straits. (*/Inf)
