The University of Indonesia (UI), led by UI Rector Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU., conducted an official visit to the University of California, Berkeley. This visit aims to reinforce the strategic collaboration established between UI and UC Berkeley, particularly in engineering, interdisciplinary research, and future technological innovation.
Held on May 1, 2025, the UI delegation was welcomed by Vice Chancellor for Research Kathy Yelick, Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Senior International Officer Lisa Alvarez-Cohen, and Dean of Engineering at UC Berkeley Prof. Tsu-Jae King Liu, along with other senior officials from UC Berkeley. The meeting between the two universities broadly discussed strengthening research collaborations, faculty and student exchange programs, and the development of joint initiatives in advanced and sustainable technologies.
Specifically, the visit aimed to monitor the ongoing collaboration between the Faculty of Engineering UI (FTUI) and Berkeley Engineering, under the initiative titled Program Penelitian dan Akademik Unggulan Interdisiplin (PPAUI) or the Flagship Interdisciplinary Academic and Research Program. This initiative includes a one-year visiting research program involving three young lecturers from FTUI under the supervision of leading professors at UC Berkeley.
“The partnership we have built with UC Berkeley has been progressing well and will continue to expand. UC Berkeley’s strong reputation in the QS World University Rankings—ranked 12th globally—is expected to positively contribute to UI’s standing on the international stage,” stated UI Rector Prof. Heri Hermansyah.
Prof. Heri further emphasized that this visit is part of UI’s commitment to advancing technology-driven innovation through global collaboration to address future challenges. The visit also marks a strategic step toward expanding UI’s international network and strengthening Indonesia’s role in the global research and technology ecosystem.
FTUI Dean Prof. Kemas Ridwan Kurniawan, S.T., M.Sc., Ph.D., who joined the visit, expressed appreciation for the continued support from UC Berkeley to FTUI’s academic community. “We believe that our long-term partnership with UC Berkeley will result in impactful innovations and human resources that benefit not only Indonesia but also the global community,” he said.
During the visit, the UI delegation also had the opportunity to meet directly with the three FTUI lecturers currently participating in the program. One of them, Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Nuraziz Handika, a lecturer from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at FTUI, shared that the research experience with professors and teams from UC Berkeley has greatly enriched his academic perspective. “Engaging directly with some of the world’s leading researchers has given me new insights in my field. This is an exceptional opportunity to foster productive and sustainable collaboration,” he said.
The collaboration between FTUI and UC Berkeley began in 2022 and has since produced several flagship academic and research programs. Currently, two main programs are being implemented: the Pre-Doctoral Program to UC Berkeley and the Visiting Research Program conducted between the Faculty of Engineering at UC Berkeley and FTUI. Both programs are fully supported by the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation (Lembaga Penjamin Simpanan – LPS), as part of its investment in developing top-tier human capital in technology and innovation.
The Pre-Doctoral Program is designed to select promising doctoral candidates from FTUI who plan to pursue PhD studies at UC Berkeley through preliminary academic activities, including initial research and mentorship. Meanwhile, the Visiting Research Program involves a one-year research stay focusing on areas related to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in Civil Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, in collaboration with leading UC Berkeley professors.
In addition to these two programs, FTUI organized a short course program for Berkeley Engineering students in January 2025, and another planned for January 2026.
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Public Communications Office
Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia
