Serang, April 10, 2025 — The Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University (Untirta), in collaboration with the Language Center & International Office (LCIO), held a special public lecture featuring the Romanian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. Dan-Andrian Bănescu, as the keynote speaker. The event, themed “Indonesia–Romania Educational Cooperation”, was part of the commemoration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Romania.
Held at the Multimedia Room of the Rectorate Building, Sindangsari Campus, the event was attended by Untirta’s Rector, Prof. Dr. Ir. H. Fatah Sulaiman, S.T., M.T., Vice Rector for Student Affairs and Alumni, Dr. Agus Sjafari, M.Si., Vice Rector for Planning, Cooperation, and Information Systems, Prof. Alfirano, ST., MT., Ph.D., Dean of FISIP Dr. Leo Agustino, Head of the Language Center Dr. Udi Samanhudi, Head of the Master’s Program in Communication Studies Dr. Ail Muldi, FISIP lecturers, students, and representatives from the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP).
In his welcoming speech, the Dean of FISIP expressed his appreciation and pride for the Ambassador’s presence. “We are truly honored to welcome the Ambassador on this meaningful occasion. Education is a powerful bridge between nations, and today opens the door to long-term collaboration between Indonesia and Romania,” he stated.
Ambassador Bănescu highlighted the historical relationship between the two countries, which began in 1950, and has continued to grow across various sectors—politics, economy, culture, and most notably, education.
He elaborated on the potential for educational collaboration between Indonesia and Romania, including inter-ministerial agreements, regional cooperation, and MoUs between universities. He also mentioned ongoing efforts to explore cooperation between Untirta and Romanian universities in the form of student and faculty exchanges, joint research, and internship programs within embassies.
In an exciting addition, the Ambassador shared information about Romanian government scholarships available for Indonesian students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees—offered via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Romanian institutions such as the Foreign Trade and Investment Agency.
“Romania is a beautiful country with a rich cultural and historical heritage. We warmly welcome Indonesian students to explore and study in our country. In fact, we’ve already launched Romanian language and culture classes at Universitas Indonesia, with 120 active students,” he added.
Beyond academics, the Ambassador introduced students to various aspects of Romania, including its history, government system, religious diversity, and iconic tourist destinations like Bran Castle—famously known as Dracula’s Castle.
The lecture concluded with an interactive Q&A session, where FISIP students showed strong interest in scholarship opportunities and diplomatic career paths. The Ambassador also provided insights into embassy work environments and how social and political science graduates can pursue diplomatic careers.
This public lecture served as a significant milestone in strengthening Indonesia–Romania relations and broadening academic and professional horizons for the Untirta academic community.
