Indonesia, Timor Leste Universities Forge Stronger Academic Partnership

RRI.CO.ID, Surabaya - The Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS) in Surabaya, East Java, is strengthening its international presence by advancing applied science and technology to address social challenges.

On Monday, July 6, 2026, ITS welcomed a collaborative visit from the Dili Institute of Technology (DIT), Timor Leste, marking a new step in academic and research cooperation.

ITS Professor of Informatics Engineering Umi Laili Yuhana emphasized that the partnership reflects both institutions’ commitment to creating sustainable impact.

“We want to provide direct experience for DIT students through lectures and workshops at ITS,” said Umi, as quoted on ITS official website on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. noting that the collaboration includes academic exchanges, joint research, and faculty development program.

One immediate initiative is a short inbound program, where 98 computer science students from DIT will spend a week immersed in ITS’s academic environment.

The delegation also conducted a site visit to ITS’s Directorate of Technology and Information Systems Development (DPTSI) to study IT system management.

Representing DIT, IT Director Edio Da Costa highlighted the collaboration’s strategic importance. “This cooperation helps us identify problem clusters in Timor Leste and design practical roadmaps for solutions,” he explained.

As an ITS doctoral alumnus, Edio described the partnership as both historically significant and morally driven, underscoring his responsibility to contribute to his homeland.

He stressed the need for international networking to tackle complex social issues and revealed plans for community engagement programs in border areas between Atambua and Timor Leste. “Through structured community engagement, we want to deliver direct contributions to society,” he said.

The collaboration also aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By enhancing academic quality, the initiative supports SDG 4 on Quality Education, while the cross-border partnership reflects SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals. ***