Number of drug users in the province continues to increase. In 2011, the National Provincial Narcotics Agency (BNNP) recorded 125.730 people of South Sulawesi are of drug users, and by 2012 increased to 131.200 people. Worse yet, the drug users are dominated by teenagers.

It was revealed by the head of BNNP of South Sulawesi, Drs. Richard M. Nainggolan, MM. MBA, when working visit in Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM), Wednesday, April 3^rd, 2013. According to him, based on the current data, BNNP of South Sulawesi will focus on the prevention of drug abuse for young people, especially for students. "Therefore, we came here to invite UNM to synergize with us to fight against drugs," he said.

He admitted that BNNP of South Sulawesi face obstacle to eradicate drugs without support from other institutions and agencies. With cooperation, many things can be done effectively and efficiently, such as socialization the dangers of drugs, routine urine test, formation of anti-drug cadres and create Drug-Free Zones. "The growth of Drug-Free Zones in Makassar will reduce the space for the drug users and it is not impossible that the Zero Drug program can be achieved in 2015," he asserted.

An educational institution based in the USA, the Academic Partnerships International (API), wants to bridge foreign students to study in the Graduate School of Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM PPs). This desire conveyed by API's Chief Executive Officer, Duncan McGiligan, when visiting UNM, on Monday, March 25, 2013.

According to McGiligan, there are many foreign students who are interested in study in Indonesia, particularly for masters and doctoral degree but having cost and access limitations. "Our role is to bridge the foreign students to study at university they want without having to incur huge costs and leave the area," he said.

Therefore, API offers a program called Virtual University, which is a learning process conducted with the use of the Internet network. "The foreign students will be connected to the lecturer of the courses they select, at UNM for example, so students can receive course materials anywhere as long as they are connected to the Internet, like e-learning program," he pointed out.

McGiligan added that API has already connected with hundreds of leading universities in the world, whereas in Indonesia only one that already cooperated with API, which is UNJ. "UNM will be the second university in Indonesia which we invite in the program," he admits.

As the first step, it will facilitate students in eastern Indonesia who want to study at UNM PPs. "So, there are students in Ambon, Papua, Bali, Lombok, but his professor at UNM, in the future we can develop to admit students from various countries," he explained

American Indonesiaan Exchange Foundation (AMINEF) plans to socialize several scholarships to study in the United States. Socialization is going to be held at Senate Room, 3^rd floor of Rectorate building, Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM), Tuesday, February 12, 2013.

AMINEF Executive Director, Michael E. McCoy revealed that the socialization will be presented  the Fulbright scholarship program, funded Higher Education Fulbright and several other special scholarship programs. "We will offer an opportunity for scholars to continue their studies into higher education, conduct a research or as a guest lecturer at some universities in the United States in 2014," he said.

Universitas Negeri Makassar (UNM) and Universitas Negeri Gorontalo (UNG) agreed to extend the cooperation. Formerly both Universities are already working behind since 2008, as stipulated in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Then extended sign ceremony held on January 15, 2013.

In the signing ceremony, both universities agreed to conduct cooperation in order to develop competence and improve the quality of human resources. Besides, it was agreed fostering institutional linkages between them in carrying out the functions of education, research and community service.