Hasanuddin University (UNHAS), through the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA), welcomed a delegation from Kyushu University, Japan, to explore potential academic and research collaborations. The meeting was held on Thursday, 18 September 2025, and took place at the Senate Meeting Room, Science Building, UNHAS, and marked an important step toward strengthening international research partnerships.
The session was opened by Dr. Khaeruddin, M.Sc., Vice Dean for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, who also served as moderator. A welcome address was delivered by Dr. Muh. Alimuddin Hamzah, M.Eng., Vice Dean for Partnership, Research, Innovation, and Alumni, on behalf of the Dean of FMIPA. Faculty leaders, including Dr. Firman, M.Si. (Head of the Department of Mathematics), Dr. Anna Islamiyati, M.Si. (Head of the Department of Statistics), Dr. Magdalena Litaay, M. Sc. (Head of the Department of Biology), and Prof. Dr. Syamsuddin Toaha, M.Sc. (Head of the Doctoral Program in Mathematics) also attended the discussion.
From the UNHAS research community, Prof. Arwin Lawi and Andi Risang Qinthar Latunra, S.S., M.Hum. shared their academic insights. Risang presented his recent study on emotion estimation from video and sound, using film-based datasets collected from YouTube.
The Kyushu University delegation was represented by Prof. Gerard B. Remijn, Head of the Perceptual Psychology Laboratory, Department of Acoustic Design, Faculty of Design, and Assoc. Prof. Fumihiko Yokota, Research Promotion Coordinator and Epidemiologist. Prof. Remijn also highlighted past research conducted by his Indonesian doctoral students, showcasing the depth of Kyushu University’s international collaborations.
The meeting centered on opportunities for joint research in the field of sound and image characterization for emotion identification. Both universities recognized the importance of developing high-quality speech and sound datasets in the Indonesian language, given its large number of speakers and its unique linguistic features, which remain underexplored in acoustic and perception studies.
In addition to joint research, both parties discussed possibilities for joint supervision of Master’s and Doctoral students, exchange programs, and collaborative publications. Prof. Remijn also extended an open invitation to UNHAS graduate students interested in pursuing doctoral studies at Kyushu University.
Looking ahead, UNHAS and Kyushu University plan to pursue collaborative funding schemes. From the Indonesian side, Prof. Arwin Lawi emphasized the potential of the Indonesian Collaborative Research or Riset Kolaborasi Indonesia (RKI) scheme, while Kyushu University representatives suggested exploring opportunities through JSPS (Japan Society for the Promotion of Science) and SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development).
The discussion concluded with an exchange of tokens of appreciation and a group photo, reflecting the shared enthusiasm for building stronger academic and cultural ties between Indonesia and Japan.
This meeting not only strengthened UNHAS’s international partnerships but also opened new opportunities for faculty and students to engage in impactful, cross-border research. Both universities expressed optimism that the collaboration will contribute to advancing science and enriching student learning experiences.
