Successful visit to the UG by Rector of Institut Teknologi Bandung

The Rector of Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), Prof Tatacipta Dirgantara, paid a 3-day visit to the UG from 3 to 5 September. ITB, or as it was known at its founding in 1920, the Technische Hoogeschool te Bandoeng, was the second technical university established by the Dutch government after TUDelft, having been established during Dutch colonial rule in Indonesia. The other technical universities in the Netherlands were established after this.

A long history, during which time ITB has grown into the top technical institution in Indonesia. Not only that, it has been one of the most prolific research partners of the UG, not just in Indonesia but worldwide, for decades.  

Prof Tatacipta Dirgantara was inaugurated as the Rector of ITB in January 2025, and his visit to the UG was his first visit to a Dutch university since he began in his position. The schedule of his visit was quite packed, reflecting the wide range of topics of interest between the two partners. His personal objectives were mainly to explore options for a new strategic, university-to-university dimension to the collaboration, which can enrich the already successful work going on in various technical disciplines. 

Busy schedule

The Rector was accompanied by ITB’s former head of International Partnerships and a familiar face in Groningen, Prof Edwan Kardena. Prof Edwan first visited the UG back in the early 2000s and in his time as head of partnerships saw the collaboration grow into what it is today. Alongside Prof Tatacipta and Prof Edwan was Dr Endra Gunawan, the current Director of Partnerships at ITB. 

The schedule included visits to several faculties (FSE, FEB, FSS, UMCG), the House of Connections, and a meeting with the UG’s President and Rector Magnificus. The guests also met with RUG Ventures, the UG’s startup incubator. They also paid a visit to Innovation Centre Drachten where they met current Engineering Doctorate (EngD) students. Also part of the schedule was a meeting with ITB’s community of alumni in the Netherlands. 

Focus on double degree PhDs

Thus far there has not been a strong focus on double doctoral collaboration between ITB and the UG, with many PhDs coming for a full-time PhD at the UG. The ITB Rector suggested that the UG work with its strategic partners in Indonesia to grow numbers of double degree PhDs, to allow Indonesia’s top researchers to conduct doctoral research supervised jointly by both ITB and UG. There are extra complications and difficulties that come with this kind of construction, but the deep knowledge of both institutions is one that can even more closely link the two institutions in the future and create an even more sustainable partnership through the creation of a larger number of PhD alumni who know both universities. 

Proposal for Strategic Partnership  

Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in Yogyakarta, is the UG’s strategic partner in Indonesia and is often seen as the UG’s natural academic partner in the country, being a more broad-based university with a full spectrum of faculties. However, in recent years the UG’s Faculty of Science and Engineering has grown significantly, and the UG has worked actively with 4TU. Federation to strengthen the engineering profile in a comprehensive university as the UG. Taken together, UGM and ITB would fully cover the UG’s academic interests and could act as a regional hub for academic research in strategic themes. 

Professor Bayu Jayawardhana is Director of Engineering and the Scientific Director of ENTEG, in the Faculty of Science and Engineering. He also acts as an academic ambassador for the UG’s technical disciplines in southeast Asia, and he supports the expansion of the UG’s partnership with ITB: 'The Netherlands and Indonesia share not only a common history, but also many common societal challenges and transitions. Together with UGM and ITB as strategic partners of UG, we can learn from one another, exchange knowledge, and collaborate to address these challenges in both countries.'

Next steps

The Rector Magnificus, Prof Jacquelien Scherpen, will lead a delegation from a number of UG faculties to Indonesia in November of this year. It is an opportunity to work with both ITB and UGM on fleshing out the future of the partnership, in existing areas of collaboration, but also considering options for new inter- and trans-disciplinary forms of collaboration. 

Questions?

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to John Falvey, International Policy Advisor for southeast Asia in the department for International Strategy and Relations, or Prof. Bayu Jayawardhana from the Faculty of Science and Engineering:

John Falvey

Prof. Bayu Jayawardhana