Palangka Raya — Institut Teknologi Kalimantan (ITK) continues to demonstrate its collaborative spirit in strengthening the quality of higher education in Kalimantan. Through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Universitas Palangka Raya (UPR), ITK reaffirmed its commitment to building strategic cooperation in international accreditation, academic quality enhancement, and the expansion of research and innovation networks.

The agenda, which was also accompanied by the “Strategy for Successfully Achieving International Accreditation” Workshop, took place at Universitas Palangka Raya, Palangka Raya. The event was attended by the Rector of ITK, Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Agus Rubiyanto, M.Eng.Sc., along with ITK’s leadership team. From UPR, the event was attended by the Rector of Universitas Palangka Raya, Prof. Dr. Ir. Salampak Dohong, MS., IPU., together with university leaders, deans, heads of departments, study program coordinators, lecturers, and members of the UPR academic community.

This meeting was not merely a ceremonial agenda between two universities. It became a forum for sharing experiences on how higher education institutions in Kalimantan can move forward with greater confidence toward international recognition. ITK came with its experience in strengthening academic quality and developing international accreditation strategies as part of a broader effort to build a sustainable quality culture.

In his remarks, the Rector of ITK emphasized that international accreditation is not simply a label or certificate displayed on an institutional wall. More than that, it is a quality compass that ensures education, research, and community service are aligned with global standards.

“International accreditation is a compass and quality assurance that the teaching and learning process, research, and community service we carry out are on par with the world’s leading universities,” said Prof. Agus.

According to him, today’s higher education challenges can no longer be answered by working in isolation. Universities need to open spaces for collaboration, mutual learning, and collective strength in order to compete at both national and global levels.

“Competition is old fashion, collaboration is the future. ITK’s presence at UPR is not to teach from above, but to share experiences, learn from one another, and move forward together,” he added.

The signing of the MoU between ITK and UPR serves as an important foundation for broader and more concrete cooperation. This collaboration is expected to be followed up through various programs, including the development of internationally benchmarked curricula, the strengthening of AUN-QA, IABEE, and ASIIN accreditation, joint research, scientific publications, lecturer and student exchanges, as well as academic programs relevant to regional development needs.

The Rector of ITK also highlighted UPR’s significant potential, particularly due to its regional characteristics, academic strengths, and close connection to strategic issues in Kalimantan. When combined with ITK’s experience in technology development, innovation, and academic internationalization, this synergy is expected to create a major leap forward for higher education in Borneo.

The workshop became even more meaningful as it provided a direct discussion space for academic managers at the faculty, department, and study program levels. Participants were encouraged to view international accreditation not as an administrative burden, but as a comprehensive improvement process covering curriculum, learning, lecturers, students, research, governance, and institutional impact on society.

Through this agenda, the spirit of ITK Berdampak was once again reflected in a concrete form. ITK is not only advancing its own institution, but also sharing experience, opening collaborative spaces, and contributing to the strengthening of higher education quality across Kalimantan.

In addition to academic cooperation, ITK’s visit to UPR also strengthened institutional ties and a sense of togetherness. The Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) of ITK also held a sharing session with DWP UPR regarding the establishment of the DWP Harmoni Sejahtera ITK Cooperative. This forum became a space to exchange insights on women’s empowerment, organizational development, and cooperative management as a platform for shared welfare within the campus environment.

ITK’s presence at UPR shows that university collaboration is not only about formal documents, but also about the courage to strengthen one another. From international accreditation to campus community empowerment, ITK and UPR demonstrated that universities in Kalimantan have great potential to grow together, create meaningful impact, and step confidently onto the global stage.

With this collaboration, ITK and UPR are expected to further strengthen their strategic roles in producing excellent human resources, generating relevant research, and delivering real contributions to the development of Kalimantan and Indonesia.