The Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI), and the Faculty of Engineering, Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE), Germany, have continued to strengthen their long-standing strategic partnership for over a decade. Rooted in student exchange and joint research collaborations, this partnership now enters a new phase with expanding multidisciplinary education, research, and innovation programs.
This milestone in the partnership was marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and a Student Exchange Agreement by UI’s Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Ir. Mahmud Sudibandriyo, M.Sc., Ph.D., and UDE’s Vice Rector, Prof. Karen Shire, on Friday (April 11) at UI’s Depok Campus. Also present at the meeting were Dean of FTUI, Prof. Dr. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering UDE, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Alexander Malkwitz, along with delegates from both institutions.
The FTUI-UDE collaboration has resulted in various strategic initiatives, including student exchanges in electrical and materials engineering, joint research collaborations, and international scientific publications. Moving forward, the partnership will be expanded through the development of double degree programs at both undergraduate (3+1 scheme) and master’s (1+1 scheme) levels, joint supervision for doctoral studies, the organization of a joint engineering conference in Kiel in October 2025, and international training and internship programs.
“FTUI greatly appreciates the continuation and expansion of our partnership with UDE. As a leading national faculty of engineering committed to building a research ecosystem grounded in innovation and impact, we believe this collaboration will make meaningful contributions in addressing global challenges,” said Prof. Kemas Ridwan.
FTUI currently oversees eight departments and more than 30 study programs ranging from undergraduate to doctoral levels. The faculty also houses several strategic research centers, such as the Institute for Energy Studies, the Advanced Vehicle Research Center, and the Institute for Urban Planning and Smart City, which serve as platforms for research collaborations in energy transition, artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, smart cities, and bioengineering.
Meanwhile, UDE’s Faculty of Engineering is recognized as one of the largest engineering education hubs in Germany, with strong research focuses in Tailored Materials, Human-Centered Cyber-Physical Systems, and Energy & Resource Engineering. UDE is also an active member of various Asian international networks, including its partnership with UI.
Vice Rector of UDE, Prof. Karen Shire, stated that the collaboration with FTUI is a key component of their campus internationalization strategy. “We see great potential in expanding our partnership with FTUI, particularly in joint education, interdisciplinary research, and the mobility of students and staff. This is a concrete contribution to an inclusive and collaborative global higher education landscape,” she said.
The FTUI-UDE strategic partnership reflects a shared vision to integrate education, research, and community service internationally. With a spirit of collaboration, both institutions are committed to creating innovative solutions to global challenges such as environmental sustainability, energy resilience, and technology-driven social transformation.
UDE delegates also attended the discussion on expanding the collaboration, including Senior Professor Chair of Mechatronics Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Hermann Dieter Schramm and Retired Professor of Computer Engineering Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr. h.c. Axel Hunger.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia
