Balikpapan, December 23, 2025 – Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) held the Distinctive Courses Expo for the Odd Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year as a manifestation of its commitment to strengthening students’ character, competencies, and readiness to face future challenges. The event served as a platform for appreciation as well as dissemination of learning outcomes from ITK’s distinctive courses, which form a hallmark of the university’s curriculum.

The event was attended by the Head of the Institute for Educational Quality Development and Learning (LPMPP) of ITK, Rifqi Aulia Tanjung, S.T., M.T., and the Vice Rector for Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, Prof. Erma Suryani, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., along with the ITK academic community. The event was also supported by partner institutions that contributed to the continuity of this activity from its initial stages through the successful implementation of the Expo.

In her remarks, Prof. Erma expressed hope that collaboration between ITK and various strategic partners would continue to be strengthened and generate tangible impacts, both for the institution and the wider community. She emphasized that collaboration with partners is a crucial element in realizing the vision and mission of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology, particularly in fostering universities that create meaningful societal impact.

She further stated that distinctive courses represent the core of ITK’s curriculum, setting ITK apart from other higher education institutions. These courses are designed to shape ITK’s unique character by emphasizing technological mastery, sustainability values, and character development to prepare students for ongoing societal and technological transformations.

As part of the event series, the Distinctive Courses Expo showcased a wide range of student works that reflected learning outcomes across various distinctive courses, including Social Innovation, Resource Management, and Technology-Based Entrepreneurship. These works demonstrated students’ creativity, analytical abilities, and readiness to address real-world challenges in society.

“Through these distinctive courses, ITK students are prepared not only academically, but also in terms of character and competence to meet future development needs, including supporting the development of the Nusantara Capital City (IKN),” she stated.

Concluding her remarks, she conveyed her appreciation and gratitude to all parties involved, including partners, lecturers, and students, who worked diligently to ensure the successful implementation of the Distinctive Courses Expo. It is hoped that this event will motivate students to continue innovating and making tangible contributions to the nation and the region.

Through the organization of the Distinctive Courses Expo, ITK hopes that similar activities can continue to be developed sustainably as a collaborative learning platform, a means of character strengthening, and a space for the actualization of student works. The event is expected to encourage the emergence of innovations that are relevant to societal needs and national development, while also preparing ITK graduates who are adaptive, competitive, and ready to contribute meaningfully to development transformation, including in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN).