Jakarta, May 15, 2025 — The Rector of the Kalimantan Institute of Technology (ITK), Prof. Dr. Agus Rubiyanto, M.Eng.Sc., attended the exclusive event commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) and the 35th anniversary of the DAAD Regional Office Jakarta. The event took place at the Habibie-Ainun Library, located at the residence of renowned scientist and the 3rd President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prof. Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie, and Mrs. Ainun Habibie.

The event was attended by approximately 30 selected participants and was designed as an open discussion forum and collaborative networking platform between higher education leaders from Indonesia and Germany. The main focus of the meeting was to discuss the contributions of Indonesia-Germany collaboration in addressing global challenges, particularly in the fields of higher education and research.

The event was warmly opened by Dr. Ilham Habibie, followed by a keynote speech from Dr. Kai Sicks, Secretary General of DAAD, who highlighted DAAD’s century-long journey in supporting international education and academic exchange. In his remarks, Dr. Sicks emphasized the importance of collaborative spirit between Indonesia and Germany in building a future of higher education that is inclusive and responsive to global challenges. Dr. Guido Schnieder, a member of the organizing committee, expressed his gratitude to Dr. Ilham Habibie for granting the use of the Habibie-Ainun residence as the venue, and to the alumni who attended the event especially.

During the discussion session, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Abdul Haris delivered a significant presentation on the strategic role of Indonesian universities and the contributions of German alumni to the development of national academic and research capacity. He emphasized that the German alumni network in Indonesia is a vital force in supporting the internationalization of higher education in the country.

Meanwhile, Dr. Leenawaty Limantara underscored the importance of cross-border collaboration in higher education through three strategic approaches: Innovate, Sustain, and Connect. She highlighted that cultural exchange can be a driver of innovation in academic transformation, that collaborative research between universities can offer solutions to global challenges such as climate change, and that the use of digital technology is crucial to ensuring equitable and inclusive access to education.

Rector of ITK, Prof. Dr. Agus Rubiyanto, expressed his appreciation for the invitation and welcomed the opportunity for closer cooperation between ITK and various educational institutions in Germany. “This event is a strategic momentum to strengthen ITK’s international network and to explore broader opportunities for research collaboration and academic exchange with partners from Germany,” he stated.

The event concluded with a networking dinner held in a warm and collaborative atmosphere. This informal setting provided a productive space for participants to exchange ideas, expand networks, and develop concrete initiatives for the advancement of higher education in the future.