The Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (FTUI) welcomed a delegation from the University of California, Santa Cruz (UC Santa Cruz) on Wednesday (18/2) at the Senate Meeting Room, Dean’s Office Building. The visit marked a strategic milestone with the signing of a joint degree agreement for the Computer Engineering Study Program.
The delegation was received by Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia, and attended by FTUI leaders and faculty members, including Akhmad Herman Yuwono, Andyka Kusuma, Aries Subiantoro, Muhammad Salman, Aji Nur Widyanto, and Prima Dewi Purnamasari. Representing the University of California, Santa Cruz were Alexander L. Wolf, Alan Spearot, Becky George, George Sabo, Guido Bordignon, and Jim Whitehead.
This collaboration establishes the University of California, Santa Cruz, as the first university partner in FTUI’s Computer Engineering joint degree program. The partnership is expected to broaden students’ access to global academic experiences, enrich the curriculum, and enhance graduates’ competitiveness at the international level.
Beyond the joint degree program, UC Santa Cruz also expressed interest in exploring research collaboration, particularly in the field of tropical energy. This opportunity is considered highly relevant to energy challenges in tropical regions, including Indonesia.
During the visit, the UC Santa Cruz delegation also sought information regarding the educational and teaching system at Universitas Indonesia, particularly at FTUI. The integration of technology in FTUI’s learning process was noted as extensive and intensive, including the utilization of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).
Several study programs, such as Architecture, implement a combination of technology, AI, and human skills approaches in their learning processes. This reflects FTUI’s flexibility and adaptability in responding to industry developments and global demands.
UC Santa Cruz offers a course titled Engineering Design and Leadership, which is comparable to the capstone program at FTUI. This course opens opportunities for developing joint classes or cross-institutional teaching collaborations as part of the joint degree implementation.
In his remarks, Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan emphasized that this partnership is not merely an academic exchange but a shared commitment to building an engineering education ecosystem that is adaptive to global technological advancements.
“This collaboration reflects FTUI’s vision to deliver internationally standardized education that is relevant to future industry needs. We want our students not only to excel academically, but also to possess a global perspective and readiness to face cross-border technological challenges,” he stated.
He further added that this synergy is expected to open broader opportunities for collaboration, including curriculum development, joint classes, and joint research in strategic areas such as tropical energy and sustainable technology.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia
