Author: Duke Paopathon Pardede (2461001) | Editor: Ambarwulan, S.T.
(Source: International Relation Office)
Universitas Internasional Batam (UIB) hosted a delegation from Yuan Ze University (YZU), Taiwan, on 17 July 2026 for a two-hour discussion on academic collaboration held at the Grand Center on UIB’s Gedung A. Organised by UIB’s International Relations Office (Kantor Urusan Internasional), the meeting brought representatives of YZU together with UIB’s Faculty of Business and Management (FBM) to explore how the two universities might work together on student mobility, faculty exchange, and joint academic programmes, with particular relevance identified for FBM’s Accounting study programme.
The visit reflects UIB’s ongoing effort to widen its network of international partners as part of a broader push toward internationalisation, a priority the university has pursued through a series of institutional visits and exchanges with universities across Asia. Yuan Ze University, one of Taiwan’s established institutions, was identified as a partner with strong potential in academic and international programme development, prompting UIB to open direct discussions on the kinds of collaboration that could benefit students and faculty at both campuses. Around fifteen people took part in the session, drawing together the YZU delegation, UIB representatives, and FBM staff for what both sides treated as an early but concrete step toward a longer-term partnership.
At the centre of the discussion was a presentation from YZU on several pathway programmes designed with FBM’s Accounting students in mind. Among the regular academic offerings introduced was the English Bachelor of Business Administration, which can be pursued through a 3+1 or 2+2 arrangement under a concentration in International Finance and Global Management, alongside a master’s-level EMS programme available through a 1+1 pathway. A further 3+2 arrangement, referred to during the discussion as a 3+1+1 pathway, was also raised, though YZU noted that this route would require a formal Memorandum of Agreement between the two institutions before it could be implemented.
(Source: International Relation Office)
Beyond the regular academic pathways, YZU also outlined an industry cooperation track aimed specifically at international students with Mandarin proficiency. Under this arrangement, students who have completed their diploma requirements by the seventh semester may join the programme on a full-time, in-person basis in Taiwan. Those who complete the accompanying internship component are positioned to move directly into employment at public accounting firms in Taiwan, an arrangement YZU described as functioning much like a bonded service scheme, in which a student receives a Letter of Acceptance to study before transitioning into work immediately after graduation.
Admissions and language requirements were addressed in detail during the session. Applications for both the Fall Intake and other intake periods are processed through YZU’s admissions portal, with the industry cooperation track’s registration window running from October to November each year. Prospective students applying to English-medium international classes are expected to submit TOEFL iBT or IELTS scores, while those entering Mandarin-medium regular classes, and all applicants to the industry cooperation track without exception, are required to hold a TOCFL certificate demonstrating Mandarin proficiency. For students joining through short-term student exchange arrangements, YZU clarified that tuition credits are provided free of charge, though dormitory accommodation remains a paid cost, and that exchange placements cannot be completed remotely, requiring students to be physically present in Taiwan.
(Source: International Relation Office)
The conversation was not limited to opportunities for UIB students travelling to Taiwan. YZU representatives also expressed interest in sending their own students to Batam for internship placements, citing the concentration of companies operating in the city as a practical advantage for hosting foreign interns. At the same time, the discussion touched candidly on a limitation YZU has observed among its own student body, namely relatively weaker English communication skills among Taiwanese students, a factor both sides acknowledged would need to be considered in designing any reciprocal exchange or internship arrangement. Beyond formal academic programmes, the possibility of site visits and study tours between the two institutions was also raised as a lower-barrier way to sustain engagement between staff and students.
Discussions were led on the UIB side by Theodesia Lady Pratiwi, S.Pd., M.Hum., who chaired the session as project lead, with Robin Chen representing Yuan Ze University as the visiting resource person. The meeting closed with a welcome gesture from UIB, including refreshments and a souvenir package presented to the visiting delegation, a customary courtesy extended to international guests. With the discussion yielding several concrete pathway options, including one contingent on a future Memorandum of Agreement, both institutions indicated an interest in continuing the conversation, with FBM positioned to take a closer look at how the Accounting-focused pathways might be developed into a formal collaboration in the months ahead.
International Relation Office
Universitas Internasional Batam
