Banda Aceh, 4–6 May 2026: Professor Nobuhiro Aizawa, Dean and Managing Director of the ERIA School of Government (So G), met with Professor Dr Mirza Tabrani, Rector of Universitas Syiah Kuala, and Professor Mahdi Syahbandir, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP), to explore opportunities for academic collaboration and institutional partnership.

During the meeting, Professor Mahdi Syahbandir presented the faculty’s academic development plans, highlighting its four existing study programmes – communication, political science, sociology, and government studies – as well as preparations to establish a new international relations programme.

Discussions focused on potential areas of co-operation, including curriculum development, lecturer capacity building, academic training programmes, and expanding opportunities for student engagement through international exposure and exchange.

Professor Aizawa also shared information about the ERIA School of Government’s internship programme and welcomed applications from Universitas Syiah Kuala students interested in participating.

Both sides further exchanged views on strengthening international relations education through locally grounded perspectives, including lessons drawn from Aceh’s post-conflict recovery and post-disaster governance experiences.

The engagement reflects ERIA’s continued commitment to strengthening partnerships with regional universities and supporting the development of future policy leaders across ASEAN and East Asia.