#GoingGlobal: VSUT, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta join forces in advancing international criminal justice

Marking a significant milestone in global academic integration, the Faculty of Criminal Justice Education (FCJE) of Visayas State University Tolosa (VSUT) joins forces with the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) in Indonesia to strengthen academic linkages, promote internationalization, and foster cooperation in instruction, research, and extension services.

The five-year partnership was formalized in a virtual signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on April 20, 2026. 

In attendance were VSUT Chancellor and Head of International Affairs and Relations, Dr. Quenstein D. Lauzon, VSUT Director for Research, Extension and Innovation, Dr. June Rey A. Montajes, and FCJE faculty members, led by its Dean, Dr. Angelyn L. Noble. 

The Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS) team, led by Prof. Dr. Kelik Wardiono, SH.M.H., Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science, and Wardah Yuspin, SH.M.Kn., PhD, Vice Dean of Research, Partnership, and International Affairs, were also present.

This new partnership promotes international collaboration and strengthens academic ties between the Philippines and Indonesia. 

Representatives from VSU Tolosa emphasized that the partnership focuses on preparing students to become globally competent professionals who are ready to address challenges in criminal justice, law, and political science worldwide.

Furthermore, the partnership is projected to create high-impact opportunities for faculty and students, including exchange programs that foster cross-border learning through mobility, joint research that enables shared studies and publications focused on legal systems and criminal justice innovations, and extension services that facilitate joint community engagement projects and innovative learning experiences. 

This collaboration is expected to enhance educational outcomes, expand research reach, and strengthen community involvement for both institutions.

“I am pleased to announce the partnership between FCJE of VSU Tolosa and UMS, Indonesia. This marks a significant milestone as the very first international collaborator of the Faculty. This also represents the eighth international partnership of the campus, strengthening our commitment to building a more diverse and globally competent academic community,” Dr. Lauzon, VSUT Chancellor, said in a statement.

VSUT, it can be recalled, has in the past forged linkages with institutions abroad such as the Nagoya City University and Kagoshima University in Japan, Universitas Airlangga-Surabaya in Indonesia and the Universiti Putra Malaysia. 

More than a formal agreement, the present virtual signing ceremony enables tangible opportunities for student exchange and collaborative research. 

As higher education grows increasingly interconnected, VSU Tolosa’s partnership with Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta affirms its dedication to preparing students for global academic and professional environments, thereby advancing the implementation and revitalization of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development and further cultivating an environment where innovation and international cooperation integrate seamlessly.

This article is aligned with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4: Quality Education; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. 

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