Building a Sustainable Future: An Alliance to Strengthen Higher-Education in Indonesia
On December 13, 2024, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, the Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center (TSEA), SDSN Southeast Asia, and the United in Diversity Foundation organized the Tri Hita Karana Future Knowledge: Knowledge Innovation Technology Alliance High-Level Dialogue.
Held at the United in Diversity Bali Campus (UIDBC) in Bali, Indonesia, this high-level dialogue aimed to align the focus of Indonesia’s higher education, science, and technology sectors with the national development priorities of the Prabowo-Gibran administration (2024–2029). Leaders of Indonesia’s higher education institutions were invited to engage in discussions on these priorities and explore collaborative pathways toward building a resilient and innovative future for Indonesia.
Indonesian leaders such as H.E. Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro, the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, and H.E. Stella Christie, the Vice-Minister, provided guidance to Indonesian rectors, professors, and educators on improving the quality of education. “There are eight missions for the Prabowo-Gibran cabinet referred to as Asta Cita, including the one to strengthen the development of human resources, science, technology, and education,” said H.E. Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro. Meanwhile, H.E. Stella Christie emphasized the importance of research, stating, “The answer to increasing human capital in Indonesia is through research.”
The gathering featured other renowned figures, including Dr. Lestari Moerdijat, Vice Chair of the People's Consultative Assembly of the Republic of Indonesia; Prof. Edward F. Crawley, Chair of the Board of Management at Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center & Ford Professor of Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT); Helene Leong, CDIO Co-Director; Prof. Song Sen, Associate Professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Tsinghua University; Philip Yeo, Chairman of the Economic Development Innovations Singapore (EDIS); Prof. Mats Hanson, Chair of the Faculty at United in Diversity Foundation; and Sir Gordon Duff, Honorary President at United in Diversity Foundation. They each shared their insights on transforming Indonesia’s education landscape under the new political mandate.
A key outcome of the high-level dialogue was a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Knowledge Innovation and Technology Alliance (KITA) between the Tri Hita Karana Centre for Future Knowledge, United in Diversity, and 18 Indonesian universities. The parties agreed to create a collaborative framework that leverages technology with a holistic approach aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to strengthen higher education in Indonesia.
The event also served as a moment of reflection and connection within the framework of the Tri Hita Karana Universal Reflection Journey. It was preceded by a session from Scholas Occurrentes aimed at fostering education without borders. During the event, moments of silence and the lighting of SDG candles were observed to call for global unity and diversity, emphasizing universal human values such as the fight against poverty, climate change, and dehumanization.
Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing the role of higher education in Indonesia and improving the global standing of its universities. They expressed optimism that the newly established Knowledge Innovation Technology Alliance (KITA) will serve as a catalyst for achieving these goals.
