[Surabaya, August 20, 2026] — The Nahdlatul Ulama Special Branch Executive Board (PCINU) Taiwan and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) officially strengthened their strategic partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) held on August 20, 2026, at the ITS Rectorate Building in Surabaya.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Agus Muhamad Hatta, S.T., M.Si., Ph.D., Vice Rector for Research, Innovation, Cooperation, and Alumni Affairs of ITS, and Muhammad Ghofur, representing PCINU Taiwan. This collaboration marks a strategic step toward building synergy between a higher education institution and an Indonesian community organization in Taiwan, particularly in education, research, community service, human resource development, and strengthening international networks.
The collaboration was initiated by Dr. Arief Abdurrahman, Director of OPOP Training Center ITS, as part of an effort to create broader opportunities for collaboration between ITS, PCINU Taiwan, and the Indonesian community in Taiwan. One of the strategic opportunities that can be developed through this collaboration is opening access to the Taiwanese market for products produced by pesantren and businesses supported by pesantren in Indonesia.
The initiative is expected to serve as a gateway for developing various programs that are not only institutional in nature but also provide direct benefits to the community. The collaboration between ITS and PCINU Taiwan provides an opportunity to connect ITS’s strengths in academia, technology, and research with the Indonesian community network in Taiwan. Through this partnership, both parties have the opportunity to develop various activities, including seminars, workshops, training programs, joint research, knowledge exchange, human resource capacity building, and community service programs.
ITS brings strong expertise in higher education, research, technology, and innovation, while PCINU Taiwan has an extensive network within the Indonesian community in Taiwan that can serve as a strategic partner in implementing various programs. This collaboration demonstrates the strategic role of the Indonesian diaspora in building bridges for knowledge, education, technology, and community empowerment between Indonesia and Taiwan.
For ITS, the collaboration with PCINU Taiwan is part of its efforts to expand its international network while delivering academic and technological contributions to the community. Meanwhile, for PCINU Taiwan, the partnership provides broader access to the academic, research, and innovation capacities developed by ITS.
With a spirit of collaboration, community service, innovation, and empowerment, the signing of the MoU is expected to serve as the starting point for various strategic programs that strengthen the ITS–PCINU Taiwan partnership, enhance human resource quality, and contribute to the development of the halal ecosystem and empowerment of the Indonesian community from a global perspective.
— Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) contributed to the series of activities of the 35th
— The Nahdlatul Ulama Special Branch Executive Board (PCINU) Taiwan and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
— Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) contributed to the Panel Discussion “Strengthening the Role of