Department of English Language Education or Tadris Bahasa Inggris of Kudus State Islamic Institute (TBI IAIN Kudus) has visited and paid an official visit to one of the world's most well-established universities as part of its efforts to expand international cooperation on Wednesday, July 12, 2023. The meeting between TBI IAIN Kudus and University of Canberra not only signify academic collaboration but also pave the pathway for other future collaboration in various field of partnership.

The delegation from IAIN Kudus was led by In-Chief Editor of Qudus International Journal of Islamic Studies (QIJIS), Wahibur Rokhman, S.E., M.Si., Ph.D., and accompanied by Muhammad Arif Al Hakim, M.TESOL., the lecturer of TBI IAIN Kudus, the Head of Research and Publication Centre of IAIN Kudus, Dr. Muhamad Mustaqim, M.M., M.Pd.I., and the lecturer of the Faculty of Education, Faiq Makhdum Noor, M.Pd. This official meeting was held at Jamberoo St, Bruce, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), in Building 6, Faculty of Education, University of Canberra.

During the visit, the delegation of IAIN Kudus was welcomed by the Assistant Professor of Teacher and Community Education and Program Director of TESOL in the Faculty of Education, University of Canberra, Asst. Prof. Maya Gunawardena. She also introduced her TESOL Postgraduate Program team, who could not attend a face-to-face meeting. They were Associate Professor Deborah Hill and Professor Elke Stracke.

Program Director TESOL, Maya, also mentioned that Indonesia and Australia have had a good relationship in many areas so far, including education. She believed that this academic collaboration would strengthen the relationship between the two countries, especially in the field of English Teaching and Learning.

On this occasion, Hakim, as a lecturer of TBI IAIN Kudus, introduced IAIN Kudus, especially the Department of English Language Education at the beginning. Subsequently, he offered a plethora of academic partnerships with the TESOL Program at University of Canberra by inviting some lecturers in the program to be on the Editorial Board of the Journal of English Teaching and Learning Issues (JETLI) which is managed by TBI IAIN Kudus. Also, he asked the program members who are interested in joining visiting scholars’ program from IAIN Kudus as well as research collaboration in the future.

Building partnerships with educational institutions and other universities across the world are on the to-do list and demanded to be done by TBI IAIN Kudus as it works toward its goal of becoming an institution that meets international standards in either academic or administrative affairs.