ITS Strengthens International Leadership through ASEA-UNINET Strategic Meeting and European Partnership Visit

Surabaya, ITS – Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) reaffirmed its commitment to internationalization by actively contributing to strategic discussions within the ASEA-UNINET (ASEAN-European Academic University Network) and expanding collaboration opportunities with higher education institutions and research organizations in Europe.

Representing ITS, Prof. Dr. Gamantyo Hendrantoro participated in the 2026 ASEA-UNINET National Coordinators’ Meeting, held at the University of Salzburg, Austria, on 7–8 July 2026. Unlike a regular delegate, Prof. Gamantyo attended the meeting in his capacity as Vice-President and Regional Coordinator for South-East Asia of ASEA-UNINET, reflecting ITS’ active leadership role within the international university network.

The annual meeting gathered National Coordinators and executive members from ASEAN and European universities to discuss the strategic direction of ASEA-UNINET. Key agenda items included preparations for the 21st ASEA-UNINET Plenary Meeting, membership development, evaluation of the network’s impact, collaborative research initiatives, publication strategies, and the integration of artificial intelligence and digital humanism into higher education and research. Participants also discussed the enhancement of ASEA-UNINET’s research project pages to increase the visibility and impact of collaborative research across member institutions.

As Vice-President and Regional Coordinator for South-East Asia, Prof. Gamantyo contributed to policy discussions while representing the perspectives and interests of Southeast Asian member universities, including ITS. His participation underscores ITS’ growing influence in shaping international academic collaboration between Europe and Southeast Asia.

Beyond the official meeting, Prof. Gamantyo held several bilateral meetings aimed at expanding ITS’ global partnerships. At the University of Salzburg, he met with Peter Mayr, M.A., Head of the International Relations Department, to explore opportunities for institutional collaboration, academic mobility, and the preparation of future Erasmus+ proposals.

In addition to the participation in the consortium, Prof. Gamantyo also included a meeting with Prof. Mario Huemer from the Institute of Signal Processing, Johannes Kepler University (JKU) Linz, where discussions focused on potential research collaboration in signal processing and future academic cooperation between JKU and ITS.

Continuing the mission in the Netherlands, Prof. Gamantyo met with Dr. Cornelis Dekker, Vice Chair of the Gauss Research Foundation, and fellow researchers in Reeuwijk on 11 July 2026. The discussion explored opportunities for collaborative research and international networking that could further strengthen ITS’ participation in global research initiatives.

The series of engagements is expected to generate concrete follow-up actions, including the development of joint research projects, Erasmus+ funding proposals, academic exchanges, and broader institutional collaboration with European partners. These initiatives align with ITS’ strategic vision of strengthening global engagement and enhancing its contribution to addressing global challenges through education, research, and innovation.

Through active leadership in international networks and continuous engagement with strategic partners, ITS continues to strengthen its position as a globally connected university while creating broader opportunities for its academic community to participate in international collaboration.

Penulis: Nastiti Primadyastuti
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