Fostering International Partnerships in Sustainable Development, CISD EPHEC 2026 Connects Global Participants

CISD EPHEC 2026 Participants taking photo at the ITS Rectorate Building

ITS Campus, ITS International Office—The collaboration and relationship between ITS and international universities has been strengthened once again through a short program Creative Innovative for Sustainable Development (CISD). This series of activities managed by the Directorate of Global Partnerships, was held from January 26 to February 6, 2026.

Creative Innovations for Sustainable Development, co-organized by ITS, Surabaya and EPHEC, Belgium, is an educational program dedicated to sustainable development. It immerses participants in real-world applications through practical tasks, community outreach, and cross-cultural collaboration. One of the committee supervisors, Valentino Kendean stated that participants will explore the three pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through a combination of lectures, discussions, and immersive site visits. 

In the economic pillar, they examined community-based empowerment programs such as Padat Karya and visited Sentra Wisata Kuliner (SWK) to understand how local economies are strengthened through small and medium enterprises. For the environmental pillar, participants visited TPA Benowo and urban green open spaces, gaining insights into waste management systems, renewable energy practices, and sustainable urban planning. Meanwhile, the social pillar introduced them to community-driven initiatives in Surabaya, highlighting efforts to improve public welfare, education, and social resilience.

Moreover, it is mentioned that beyond academic and field activities, participants also experienced Indonesian culture through hands-on activities such as batik making and traditional games, which fostered creativity and teamwork. A city tour further allowed them to observe sustainability practices in an urban context, while the Bromo exploration provided a memorable opportunity to appreciate Indonesia’s natural landscape and reflect on the importance of environmental preservation.

Mr. Ade, the Directorate of Global Partnerships staff who’s in charge of the program claims about the program’s Terms of Reference (TOR). “To maximize the impact, the participants were divided into six collaborative groups, mixing ITS and EPHEC students,” he defines. These groups focused their efforts on three core pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Environmental, Social, and Economic. Throughout the program, all six groups were challenged to develop a Final Project that revolved around the theme “Innovating for a Greener Future!” Their proposed innovations were assessed by the jury based on their understanding of the problem, innovation, impact, collaboration, and real-world practicality, which were presented on the last day of this 10-day short program.

Through CISD EPHEC 2026, ITS reaffirms its commitment to internationalization and sustainable development, while empowering students to become future leaders with global perspectives. This spirit of collaboration was also reflected in the strong sense of warmth and friendship built throughout the program. Isabelle, one of the lecture staff from Belgium, shared that even after returning home, the memories remained vivid. “It has been a week since we got back, but it already feels like a century. You are still in our hearts, Terima kasih teman-teman,” she expressed.