Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology supports the development of bilateral relations between Indonesia and the Islamic Republic of Iran in the fields of higher education, science, and technology.

Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Brian Yuliarto, met with Iranian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mohammad Boroujerdi, at the Ministry office in Jakarta on Monday.

"I hope this meeting will strengthen bilateral collaboration between Indonesia and Iran. We seek to understand more about the development of a sustainable science and technology ecosystem," he noted in a written statement in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The minister also suggested collaboration between Indonesia and Iran through the visiting professor program and joint research funding.

"We can facilitate matchmaking for researchers from Indonesia and Iran. Both sides can conduct joint research, for example, two years in Indonesia and then two years in Iran," he elaborated.

The minister also expressed interest in meeting with higher education authorities to discuss further cooperation during an upcoming visit to Tehran, Iran.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Boroujerdi expressed Iran's enthusiasm for deeper cooperation with Indonesia. He affirmed that Iran's rapid technological development creates opportunities for cooperation in student and lecturer exchanges. He also drew attention to opportunities for students, especially postgraduates, seeking to pursue higher education in Iran.

Concerns about language challenges will also be resolved through the addition of international programs and the provision of Persian language classes for Indonesian students. "There are several scholarships from universities in Iran for Indonesian students. We also want to provide Persian class scholarships for 100 people," he remarked.