Podomoro University and Universitas Indonesia Strengthen Collaboration in Education, Research, and Academic Capacity Development
August 7, 2026
Jakarta, August 7, 2026 — Universitas Indonesia (UI) and Podomoro University have entered into a strategic partnership in education, research, and academic capacity development. Formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the collaboration opens opportunities to develop a range of academic initiatives, including the exploration of fast-track and double-degree programs, joint research, faculty development, and academic staff exchanges.
The collaboration brings together UI’s academic and research strengths with UAP’s entrepreneurial-based learning approach. For Podomoro University, the partnership represents part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen academic quality while expanding opportunities for students and faculty to gain broader academic, research, and professional experiences.
UI Rector Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU., said that collaboration among higher education institutions is part of UI’s responsibility as an autonomous public university to contribute to strengthening Indonesia’s higher education ecosystem.
According to Prof. Heri, the partnership offers mutual benefits for both institutions. For UI, the collaboration provides greater access to industry ecosystems while expanding its network for applied research. For Podomoro University, the partnership is expected to support the enhancement of academic quality and faculty capacity. Both institutions will also have opportunities to develop learning models that are increasingly relevant to the needs of the future.
“UI views this partnership as a joint investment in quality. We will ensure that every program developed through this collaboration meets UI’s academic standards while providing mutual added value for both institutions,” said Prof. Heri.
As a follow-up to the partnership, UI and Podomoro University will develop joint academic program frameworks. One of the initiatives currently under consideration is a credit-recognition-based fast-track pathway that would allow students of Podomoro University’s Bachelor’s Program in Entrepreneurship to continue their studies in the Applied Master’s Program in Creative Industries under UI’s Vocational Education Program. Through this pathway, students could potentially complete their undergraduate and master’s degrees within a shorter period.
In addition to the fast-track pathway, the two institutions are also exploring double-degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels through an integrated curriculum. All proposed programs remain subject to academic requirements and approval by the respective internal governing bodies of both institutions. The programs are expected to be introduced to the public no earlier than the 2027/2028 academic year, subject to the outcome of academic reviews and applicable regulations.
Podomoro University Rector Bacelius Ruru, S.H., LL.M., said that the partnership with Universitas Indonesia forms part of Podomoro University’s long-term strategy to strengthen the quality of education and develop graduates with strong academic foundations and technical expertise aligned with industry and business needs.
“We welcome this partnership with Universitas Indonesia. We believe that through the programs to be jointly developed, Podomoro University students will gain broader opportunities and benefits, ultimately preparing them to become graduates who are academically strong and technically well-equipped,” said Bacelius Ruru during a press conference in Jakarta on Friday (August 7).
He added that collaboration between higher education institutions can enrich academic knowledge and learning experiences, create greater opportunities for innovation, and strengthen the relevance of education to future needs.
“We hope this partnership will serve as the starting point for broader collaboration in the future,” he added.
The partnership will not focus solely on students. UI and Podomoro University will also strengthen collaboration in faculty development through opportunities for doctoral studies, joint research aimed at international publications, team-teaching programs, guest lectures, and faculty exchanges. All activities will be implemented based on subsequent cooperation agreements and in accordance with the employment regulations and faculty workload requirements applicable at each institution.
Through this partnership, UI and Podomoro University aim to create a sustainable impact on the quality of education, research, and human resource development. For UAP, the collaboration also represents a strategic step toward strengthening academic quality and expanding students’ access to broader learning experiences and academic networks.
About Podomoro University
Podomoro University is a private university under the Agung Podomoro Education Foundation, established in 2014. Podomoro University develops an industry-driven curriculum combined with a work-based learning approach, enabling students to connect academic theory with practical experience. This approach prepares graduates with competencies that are relevant to the evolving needs of industry and the business sector.
About Universitas Indonesia
Universitas Indonesia (UI) is an autonomous public university (PTN-BH) with campuses in Depok and Jakarta. UI provides education, research, and community service across the fields of health sciences, science and technology, and social sciences and humanities, ranging from vocational education to doctoral programs. UI consistently ranks among Indonesia’s leading higher education institutions in various international university rankings.