UK and Indonesia advance partnership in international higher education   

The meeting, held on 30 May, brought together senior leaders from these UK universities, the Indonesian Government, the UK Department for Business and Trade and the British Embassy in Indonesia, to advance the development of a new international education hub within the Singhasari Special Economic Zone in East Java.  

The planned multi-institution campus, which will be led by Queen Mary in partnership with Singhasari Special Economic Zone, aims to support Indonesia’s economic and social development goals. It will focus on artificial intelligence, engineering, material sciences, climate science, life sciences, international relations, finance, strategic leadership,creative industries and more.  

British Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Dominic Jermey, said:  

“The UK is home to world-class universities offering a wide range of education and research expertise. I am delighted to see two highly ranked UK universities coming together in a consortium, led by Queen Mary University London with the University of Liverpool, meeting with President Prabowo Subianto, together with King’s College London, to support advancing educational excellence in Indonesia”.  

Education was a key focus during discussions between President Prabowo Subianto and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer at their meeting in London in November last year. The two leaders committed to revitalising and deepening the UK–Indonesia relationship through a new strategic partnership. A key example of this collaboration is the expansion of educational initiatives in the Singhasari Special Economic Zone and throughout Indonesia, supported by the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships programme.  

Professor Sir Steve Smith, the UK Government’s International Education Champion, said:  

“It was a privilege to meet with President Prabowo Subianto to explore deeper university partnerships between the UK and Indonesia. We share a strong commitment to expanding educational collaboration, fostering innovation, and creating new opportunities for students and researchers in both our countries. Partnerships with leading universities like Queen Mary University of London, the University of Liverpool and King’s College London can strengthen the ties between our countries and equip the next generation with the skills to thrive in a global economy."

Professor Helen Bailey, Vice-Principal International at Queen Mary University of London, noted the significance of the engagement:  

“This meeting marked an important step toward building a deep and enduring partnership with Indonesia. We are keen to work with colleagues in the country, through the leadership of a consortium of UK Russell Group universities, to shape a new model of international place-based higher education — one that delivers real-world impact, fosters inclusive growth, and strengthens ties between the UK and Southeast Asia.”  

As a part of the meeting, Queen Mary also announced recent partnerships with Universitas Indonesia and Universitas Brawijaya to promote student exchange programmes, joint research projects and progression in Comercial Law and other disciplines.  

Professor Tariq Ali, Pro Vice Chancellor Global Engagement and Partnerships at University of Liverpool, commented on the consortium development: 

“We are proud to be further developing our links to Indonesia, building on Liverpool’s sister city partnership with Surabaya and long-term connections with East Java. This consortium approach provides an exciting opportunity for each UK university to contribute its own unique strengths in support of Indonesia’s development goals and look forward to working together to educate talented students, who will go on to do great things.” 

Discussions are ongoing to expand the consortium to include more Russell Group universities. The new campus, which plans to begin offering programmes in September 2026, is aiming for 6,000 students in Indonesia across undergraduate, postgraduate, and executive education programmes and up to 10,000 students once the campus reaches full maturity. Teaching will follow a hybrid delivery model, including visiting UK-based faculty and will include opportunities for joint research with Indonesian universities and industry partners.