Universitas Indonesia (UI) opens up opportunities for global cooperation in the field of cybersecurity with top universities and companies in Japan. Discussions about this collaboration occurred during a visit by the academic community from the Faculty of Engineering (FT) UI, from January 25 to 30, 2024. The UI team was represented by the Dean of FTUI, Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU, along with representatives from the Department of Electrical Engineering FTUI, namely Dr.Eng. Ir. Arief Udhiarto, S.T., M.T.; Dr. Ir. Muhammad Salman; and Dr. Ruki Harwahyu, S.T., M.T., M.Sc.
The UI team visited Meiji University, Tokyo Denki University, Professional University of Information and Management for Innovation (i-University), Keio University, Yokohama National University, and the National Institute of Information and Communication Technology (NICT). Various initiatives and recent advancements in cybersecurity were discussed. The aim was to explore opportunities for collaboration in academia, research, and downstream activities, not only from Japan to Indonesia but also vice versa.
According to Prof. Heri, cybersecurity is the main focus of the collaboration discussions as it is crucial in addressing cybersecurity challenges in the digital era. “As a first step, discussions were held to understand research activities, legal regulations, and cybersecurity learning approaches in Japan. From discussions with our partners, we identified opportunities that can be explored further to create a safe and robust cyber environment for Indonesia,” he said.
In addition to universities, the UI team visited several leading cybersecurity companies in Japan, including LAC Co., Ltd., Japan Cybersecurity Innovation Committee (JCIC), Japan Network Security Association (JNSA), JICA Headquarters, and Trend Micro Inc. This strategic step was taken to build holistic collaboration between academia and the industry.
Prof. Heri mentioned that this collaboration could expand international cooperation in education while also developing technology in the field of cybersecurity. “FTUI is committed to actively supporting the development of science and technology, especially in fundamental areas like this,” he added.
He hopes that through this visit, a better understanding of the current needs and trends in the cybersecurity industry in Japan will be gained. Thus, forming mutually beneficial partnerships involving knowledge exchange, research, training, and joint observations. Through these proactive steps, UI seeks to enhance its contribution to global developments in the field of cybersecurity.
The UI team also visited the headquarters of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a partner fully supporting this initiative. In a courtesy meeting, UI and JICA representatives discussed several strategic issues, including the sustainability of cooperation in the development of cybersecurity human resources (HR) initiated in 2019. They established IdCARE as a centre of excellence and initiative at the ASEAN and surrounding levels. To date, IdCARE has supported the development of cybersecurity HR in Indonesia and various other countries, including Timor Leste, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia, and Bhutan.
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