(from left) Finnish Ambassador to Indonesia Pekka Kaihilahti and ITS Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng IPU AEng when starting the ceremony visit to ITS

ITS Campus, ITS News – To achieve the dream of becoming a World Class University, the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh November (ITS) is actively expanding cooperation with international networks based on science and technology. To realize this hope, ITS welcomed the visit of the Finnish Ambassador to Indonesia Monday (12/12) to discuss opportunities for cooperation.

ITS Chancellor, Prof Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng IPU AEng, explained that the primary purpose of this visit was to continue the collaboration between ITS and Finland. Not only Finland the holiday, which took place in the Leadership Meeting Room of the ITS Rectorate Building, also presented a delegation from Indosat Ooredoo Danabalan Amirthalingam, a commission from Nokia Ankhush Shrisvata, and a panel from KONE Adi Restuadi Pananrang. “It is truly an honor to be able to work with many great people,” said the chancellor, who is usually called Ashari, starting his speech.

Presentation of souvenirs by ITS Chancellor Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng IPU AEng (right) to the Finnish Ambassador to Indonesia Pekka Kaihilahti

Penyerahan cinderamata oleh Rektor ITS Prof Dr Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng IPU AEng (kanan) kepada Duta Besar Finlandia untuk Indonesia Pekka Kaihilahti

Meanwhile, Finnish Ambassador to Indonesia, Pekka Kaihilahti, was revealed as a representative of her country. She felt honored to help establish cooperation with the best technology campus in Indonesia. “Even though there are many language differences between the two countries, it is an honor to be able to work with each other,” he said.

On this occasion, the Director of ITS Global Partnerships Assoc, Prof. Maria Anityasari, Ph.D. explained the programs that would later be realized as a continuation of the collaboration that ITS established with the delegates during the visit.

Director of ITS Global Partnership Assoc Prof. Maria Anityasari PhD when explaining the collaboration program between ITS and Finland and a number of parties who were present at the visit to ITS

First, the continuation of the collaboration between the ITS Directorate of Global Partnerships (DKG) and JAMK University of Applied Science in conducting research and test-beds for the DIRECT project and short-term training in digital rehabilitation. “This project is planned to be funded by HETI-ABD,” said the Department of Systems and Industrial Engineering lecturer.

Maria also added to this first program, and UN Pulse Finland was still considering its contribution. However, this bespectacled woman expressed her hope that Finland could contribute to realizing this brilliant program optimally and maximally.

Furthermore, ITS, together with Business Finland, Nokia, KONE, Betolar, and Wapice, intend to initiate the Creativity and Innovation Day event. The event will be filled with workshops, training, and student hackathons. In addition, a capacity-building program for staff will also be held. “The plan is for this event to be held next year,” he said.

(from left) Finnish Ambassador to Indonesia Pekka Kaihilahti and ITS Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng IPU AEng opening the meeting at the ITS Rectorate Building

Furthermore, to ITS expectations to grow its academic community to become more credible and capable, a collaboration with the University of Oulu was announced in a double degree program. “That is the 2+2 program in undergraduate level Telecommunications Engineering and the 1+1 program in Electrical Engineering, Informatics and Information Systems,” he explained.

The Finnish Ambassador and all the delegates attending the ITS visit accepted these collaborative programs with open arms. However, Pekka underlined that innovations born from this collaboration must be helpful and positively impact the broader community. “Not only expanding connections and relationships, but I also hope this collaboration can provide appropriate benefits,” concluded Pekka hopefully. (ITS Public Relation)

ITS Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ir Mochamad Ashari MEng IPU AEng along with ITS leadership along with a delegation from the Finnish Embassy in Indonesia and a number of other delegates at ITS visits

Reporter: Hibar Buana Puspa