Prof. Agus Zainal Arifin, a professor from the Department of Informatics, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), recently received an award from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. The award was given by the Consul General of Japan in Surabaya, Mr. Masaki Tani for his services to promote mutual understanding between Japan and Indonesia.
Prof. Agus studied at the Department of Informatics Engineering at Hiroshima University in 2003-2007. He received a Japanese government scholarship, Monbukagakusho (Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology). During his study, he actively introduced Indonesian culture and art to Japanese communities. He also founded the Japanese Nahdlatul Ulama Student Family (KMNU). He received the Hiroshima University Excellent Student Award in 2006.
After finishing his doctoral study in Japan, Agus returned to Indonesia and has made active efforts to facilitate and maintain good friendships and activities between the two countries.
In the future, Prof. Agus is eager to strengthen and to explore new cooperation between the two countries through ITS. He hopes that cooperation between the two countries can be widened and be more intensive. Last but not least, he also expects that more students and lecturers in Indonesia are motivated to study abroad.