Hasanuddin University (UNHAS) welcomed a new group of students from Timor-Leste for the 2026 academic year during a reception held on August 19, 2026, in the Senate Room of the UNHAS Rectorate Building. The event marked the beginning of the students’ academic journey at UNHAS while highlighting the longstanding connections between Indonesia and Timor-Leste.
Representing the Graduate School, Prof. Dr. dr. Marhaen Hardjo, M.Biomed., Ph.D., Vice Dean for Partnerships, Research, Innovation, and Alumni, welcomed the students and emphasized the role of higher education in strengthening people-to-people relations between the two countries.
He noted that Indonesia and Timor-Leste are connected not only geographically, but also through historical experiences and longstanding social ties.
“Students from Timor-Leste who come to Makassar are not only here to pursue their education, but also to build connections between communities that can serve as a bridge to strengthen relations between Indonesia and Timor-Leste,” he said
Prof. Marhaen, who is also a professor at the Faculty of Medicine, highlighted cultural similarities between Timor-Leste and several regions of Indonesia, including South Sulawesi, which may help students adapt to academic and social life at UNHAS.
He encouraged them to make full use of their time at the university, broaden their academic and professional networks, and eventually apply the knowledge and experience gained at UNHAS to the development of their home country.
The students’ arrival illustrates how international education can extend beyond individual academic achievement. By studying and building networks in Makassar, they become part of a wider exchange of knowledge, experience, and relationships that can strengthen long-term cooperation between neighboring countries.