Jakarta, ITS News — Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) continues to expand its global role in supporting sustainable development by actively participating in the Global Sustainable Development Congress (GSDC) 2026. The four-day international forum, held in Jakarta until Wednesday (24/6), serves as a strategic platform for ITS to strengthen its global network while learning best practices from leading universities worldwide.
The event was attended by the Secretary of the Institute, Prof. Dr. Ir. Umi Laili Yuhana, S.Kom., M.Sc., C.R.P., who represented ITS alongside other delegates. During the congress, ITS showcased various flagship innovations that have demonstrated tangible benefits for society.
According to Yuhana, as she is affectionately known, the experiences gained through such international forums provide valuable insights for enhancing the implementation of sustainability programmes within the campus environment. Various strategic issues were deliberated throughout the event. “We engaged in discussions on educational planning and sustainable development, digital transformation, renewable energy, climate resilience, technology, and other related matters in support of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Yuhana explained.
Sarah Cahyadini, S.T., M.T., Ph.D., Head of the Institutional Reputation Unit at the ITS Quality Assurance Office, revealed that collaborative discussions were primarily focused on research and community service initiatives addressing sustainability issues. “Several topics of shared interest included microplastics, robotics technology, and waste management,” she elaborated.
Sarah added that a number of universities participating in the exhibition were existing partners of ITS. Nevertheless, opportunities for establishing new collaborations remain extensive, given that the event was also attended by industry practitioners and policymakers from various countries. This condition opens broader avenues for collaboration in innovation development, applied research, and community empowerment programs.
Furthermore, GSDC served as a valuable platform for higher education institutions to gain insights into the latest developments regarding the measurement of institutional contributions toward achieving the SDGs. Throughout the series of activities, ITS acquired knowledge on sustainability program management, strengthening the impact of community service initiatives, developing SDGs-based research, and implementing effective reporting governance.
With the presence of various national and international partners, ITS showcased a range of innovations resulting from research conducted by its faculty members and students. Among the featured innovations were Lamusa Bahari, designed to support fishermen’s productivity; REIDI; ITSpa Bath Salt; and Dupa Keraton for aromatherapy. “ITS aims to demonstrate that higher education institutions not only generate knowledge and technology but are also capable of providing tangible solutions to sustainable development challenges,” Yuhana stated.
Through this participation, ITS hopes to expand international collaborative opportunities while strengthening institutional capacity in implementing sustainability programmes. Furthermore, Yuhana and the delegation are committed to enhancing the university’s tangible contributions toward achieving more inclusive and sustainable development.
Concluding her remarks, Yuhana expressed optimism that the active engagement of the ITS delegation would yield sustainable synergy for all parties involved. She emphasized that the challenges of sustainable development cannot be addressed by a single institution or nation alone. “Therefore, cross-country collaboration is the key to generating more innovative and impactful solutions,” she concluded confidently.
ITS’s active participation in this global forum represents one of the university’s concrete efforts in advancing the achievement of the SDGs, particularly Goal 4 on ensuring quality education and Goal 17 on strengthening partnerships for attaining shared objectives. (HUMAS ITS)