The foundations of a long-lasting cooperation in the spheres of education, science and culture were laid today. Prof. Somantri, the Rector of the oldes university in Indonesia was a special guest at Sofia University.
A procedure of signing Memorandum of Understanding started in February, 2010, between Sofia University and Universitas Indonesia, which ended in March the same year. The Memorandum was signed by the two Rectors: Prof. Ilchev for the Bulgarian side, and for the Indonesian side by Prof. Dr. der-Soz Gumilar Rusliwa Somantri and the Dean of the Humanitarian Faculty, Dr. Bambang Wibawarta.
Universitas Indonesia (UI) was established in 1949 and is the biggest state university in Indonesia, with more than 33 000 students and 7 000 lecturers and researchers, and 12 Faculties.
A discipline "Introduction to the language of Indonesia" was established in 2009/10 in the Faculty of Classical and Modern Languages of Sofia University, Department of Classic East. The discipline in two-semester one and gives basic knowledge in practical Indonesian language and culture. Lecturer is Mr. Himirski.
Between December 2009 and 2010 a series of official visits were held in Sofia University, lead by H.E. Mr. Inkiriwang, the Ambassador of Indonesia. The meetings aimed at discussing the possibilities for collaboration, presentations of Sofia University were made and discussions regarding the higher education and science took place.
Sofia University awarded the honorary degree Doctor Honoris Causa the President of Republic of Indonesia Dr Achmed Sukarno in 1960. A Memorandum for Cultural Cooperation was signed in 1963. Today, a desire for estabishing more intensive exchange in the filed and signing a new Memorandum was declared.