Purwakarta, UPI

Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) Purwakarta Campus continues to strengthen its commitment to providing transparent and informative educational services. This effort was showcased through the lively Purwakarta Education Festival, held at the UPI Purwakarta Auditorium on Saturday (February 7, 2026).

The event is part of the broader Visit UPI 2026 program, which aims to introduce the campus’s leading study programs to high school, vocational, and Islamic high school students.

The Director of UPI Purwakarta Campus, Prof. Dr. H. Yayan Nurbayan, M.Ag., highlighted the strong enthusiasm shown by both students and teachers. He noted a growing trend in students’ interest in continuing their studies at the campus.

“Alhamdulillah, we are seeing very high enthusiasm from the community. Based on last year’s admission data, interest in UPI Purwakarta Campus continues to increase,” he said.

In addition to choosing the right study program, students are encouraged to prepare thoroughly by practicing entrance test questions. This preparation is important as competition for university admission becomes more competitive each year. (Angga/Santi/DN)

This initiative also supports SDG 4 by expanding access to higher education, providing transparent information, and helping students develop the skills needed to succeed in competitive admissions ultimately promoting inclusive and lifelong learning in Indonesia.

BANDUNG, UPI – Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) has officially strengthened its international student collaboration network by hosting a student delegation from Malaysian universities under the “Mesra” Program.

This collaboration involves students from Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) as the initiator, alongside Universiti Malaysia Terengganu and Universiti Teknologi Petronas, working together with UPI students as the hosts.

The Vice Rector for Student Affairs, Alumni, and Business at UPI, Prof. Dr. phil. Yudi Sukmayadi, M.Pd., warmly welcomed the Malaysian delegation. He emphasized that this international collaboration is a strategic step in fostering student leadership on a global scale.

“This International ‘Mesra’ Collaboration activity is an excellent initiative. It serves not only as a means of international fellowship (silaturahmi) but is also expected to formulate a framework for student leadership development at the international level,” said Prof. Yudi.

He added that the program aligns with UPI’s vision to prepare students as future leaders who care about society and the environment, while being capable of contributing to national development.

The Malaysian delegation was led by Assoc. Prof. Ts. Dr. Che Ghani bin Che Kob, Chief/Principal of the Off-Campus Residential College at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Tanjung Malim, Perak, Malaysia.

Strengthening Community Service and Student Benchmarking

The Director of the Directorate of Student Affairs at UPI, Prof. Dr. Siti Nurbayani K, M.Si., explained that the event is packaged as an international volunteering program combined with scientific activities and student leadership development.

She noted that the term “Mesra” in Malay stands for “Mahasiswa Bersama Masyarakat” (Students with the Community), which serves as the core spirit of the program.

“The ‘Mesra’ Collaboration Program is an international activity based on volunteerism or community service,” Prof. Siti Nurbayani clarified.

Through this program, UPI hopes that international collaborations will continue to thrive and serve as a model of best practice for student development based on community service and global partnerships.

Bandung, UPI

Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) is ramping up its strategic collaboration with media powerhouses via a vibrant Focus Group Discussion (FGD), drawing representatives from radio, TV, print, news agencies, and online platforms. Held on Monday, December 29, 2025, at the Partere Building Meeting Room on Jl. Dr. Setiabudhi No. 229 in Bandung, West Java, the event sparked lively dialogue and fellowship to forge mutually beneficial collaborations.

Prof. Didi Sukyadi, M.A., stressed that universities can’t thrive in isolation. Media is essential for amplifying UPI’s academic feats, research breakthroughs, and community outreach to the wider public swiftly and effectively. He envisioned these ties as a “mutually empowering and joyful” partnership, ensuring positive campus stories reach far and wide. Attendees agreed universities and media complement each other perfectly: UPI upholds its Tri Dharma duties to society, while media fulfills its legal mandate under the Press Law to deliver accurate, responsible information.

UPI aims to expand beyond mere event coverage, pushing for enhanced public relations roles in faculties and satellite campuses, joint academic reporting, and training sessions to sharpen info delivery. Research from UPI’s journals could be transformed into accessible, engaging content for everyday audiences through these collaborations. The gathering also featured insights from UPI’s Rector, who highlighted the media’s bridge-building role for research and academics, and Sandy Ferdiana, West Java Bureau Chief of Republika Online, who praised the FGD’s timeliness amid shared goals between academia and press.

Moreover, participants buzzed with optimism for ongoing partnerships, planning annual FGDs and media gatherings to cultivate an ecosystem of educational, constructive info benefiting society. This initiative aligns closely with SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), fostering multi-stakeholder collaborations to disseminate knowledge on education (SDG 4), innovation (SDG 9), and sustainable development—echoing UPI’s tagged SDGs like reduced inequalities (SDG 10) and decent work (SDG 8). Published January 2, 2026, by UPI’s Public Relations, the article underscores the media’s role in supporting government development agendas with quality public info. (Ajeng/DN)

When Muhammad Dika Harliadi, S.Pd., M.Ed., first walked into the biology laboratories of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia in 2012, he imagined a future in the classroom, not in regional policy rooms and ministerial meetings across Southeast Asia. Yet the foundations laid in FPMIPA UPI, grounded in scientific discipline and human-centred education, would eventually guide him to the ASEAN Secretariat as an Education Officer in the Education, Youth, and Sports Division. Today, from Jakarta, he helps shape policies that touch millions of learners across the region, carrying UPI’s values into every document, dialogue, and decision.

Dika completed his degree in Biology Education at UPI in 2016, firmly rooted in the conviction that education must always humanise. Long hours of practical work in the lab trained him in attention to detail, time management, and systematic problem-solving skills that would later prove essential in high-stakes regional negotiations. His academic formation was complemented by rich experiences beyond the classroom: a community development program (KKN) in Mangkubumi, a teaching practicum at Sekolah Indonesia Singapura (his first overseas residential experience) and active roles in student organisations, including serving as Head of the Department of Creativity Development in Himpunan Mahasiswa Biologi Formica and co-pioneering PARAMPA FPMIPA, a faculty-wide sports, arts, and scientific festival.

Those experiences quietly prepared him for a very different stage. Since 2020, Dika has served at the ASEAN Secretariat, representing ASEAN in high-level international forums such as the Education World Forum 2025 in the United Kingdom and other strategic engagements. His work involves facilitating and providing technical servicing to ASEAN Member States during Education Ministers and Senior Officials Meetings, ensuring that every agreement reflects shared priorities and leads to concrete follow-through. He champions ASEAN’s regional education agenda by advocating key sectoral priorities and nurturing collaborations with global, regional, and intergovernmental partners.

Behind the scenes, Dika has contributed to a series of major strategic documents that define the direction of education and youth in Southeast Asia. These include the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Higher Education: Towards an Inclusive, Sustainable and Prosperous ASEAN, the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Early Childhood Care and Education and its Roadmap, and the Roadmap for the Declaration on Digital Transformation of Education Systems in ASEAN. He has also been involved in the Vientiane Statement on climate resilience in early childhood settings, the Langkawi Joint Statement on out-of-school children and youth, and ongoing work on the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2026–2030, the ASEAN State of Education Report, and the fifth domain of the ASEAN Youth Development Index on how young people see ASEAN. In addition, he helped shape recommendations of the 1st ASEAN Youth Dialogue and oversees the implementation of education sector Plans of Action and flagship initiatives, ensuring coherence with member states’ long-term priorities.

The path from classroom teacher to regional diplomat was not without challenges. Transitioning from teaching into the diplomatic and development sectors required Dika to adapt quickly to policy-oriented writing, complex stakeholder engagement, and intergovernmental coordination. He describes this shift as a process of cultivating a strategic, diplomatic, and systems-level mindset, essential for supporting regional cooperation and high-level decision-making. To strengthen his capacity, he pursued professional development opportunities such as the Australia for ASEAN Short Course on improving digital readiness and resilience of TVET at RMIT University, Melbourne, and a Development Project Writing Training with Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Through it all, Dika continues to trace his core principles back to UPI. “UPI instilled in me the fundamental principle of humanising every aspect of the education process,” he reflects. This philosophy underpins his work on regional commitments, strategic documents, and policy frameworks, shaping how he analyses issues, designs solutions, and engages with stakeholders. His most vivid memories of UPI are not just of lectures and labs, but of being formed into a well-rounded individual, where theoretical knowledge and practical values were inseparable.

To current UPI students, his message is both simple and profound: broaden your horizon. “Maximise every opportunity and proactively explore diverse possibilities that contribute to both personal and professional growth,” he advises, urging students to look beyond familiar paths and remain open to new roles and sectors. For his alma mater, Dika hopes UPI will continue to grow as a premier institution that nurtures lifelong learners who are ready to contribute meaningfully to their communities, country, and the world.

From the laboratories of FPMIPA Bandung to the meeting rooms of ASEAN, Muhammad Dika Harliadi’s journey reflects the enduring reach of UPI’s educational philosophy, “melesat” (soaring high), anchoring technical excellence in humanity, and transforming a teacher’s heart into a regional voice for learners across Southeast Asia. _(VS)

Bandung, November 20, 2025 — The Academic Senate of Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) held its 11th Plenary Meeting at the Auditorium of the Faculty of Economics and Business Education (FPEB) on Thursday (20/11/2025). This strategic session centered on an in-depth review of the university’s quality standards and the formulation of UPI’s Development Direction for the 2025–2030 period under the leadership of the newly appointed rector.

The plenary meeting was attended by university leaders, including UPI Rector Prof. Dr. H. Didi Sukyadi, M.A., the Vice Rectors for Education and Quality Assurance, Resources and Information Systems, and Student Affairs, Alumni, and Business, as well as all members of the Academic Senate.

Chair of the UPI Academic Senate, Prof. Dr. Yadi Ruyadi, M.Si., explained that the Senate now convenes more frequently—nearly every month—despite ministerial regulations requiring plenary meetings at least once every three months.
“There are indeed many important matters that must be discussed and resolved by the Senate,” Prof. Yadi noted, referring to the wide range of essential agendas requiring careful examination.

During this 11th plenary session, several key UPI standards were reviewed in detail. However, Prof. Yadi stated that the Senate is not yet ready to issue final considerations.
“These will be returned to the relevant commissions for further discussion and additional input,” he said.

In addition to evaluating standards, the Senate also provided insights on the university’s development direction for the next five years—the rector’s term of office. UPI’s development priorities are outlined in the 2025–2030 Strategic Plan (Renstra), which is aligned with the university’s five-year strategic framework and implemented under the guidance of the current rector.

Prof. Yadi further emphasized that the university’s development efforts must refer to the Key Performance Indicators (IKU) set by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology. These indicators function as a performance agreement between the rector and the minister, and must be achieved optimally.
“The Ministry will later compare UPI’s achievements with those of other PTNBH institutions based on performance levels,” he explained.

Regarding priorities, Prof. Yadi stressed that all IKUs are equally important, as universities are obligated to fulfill all aspects of the Tri Dharma of Higher Education: education and teaching, research, and community service.
“In addition, university governance must also be well-managed,” he added.

The 11th Plenary Meeting of the UPI Academic Senate reaffirms the university’s commitment to strengthening quality assurance, governance, and competitiveness amid the growing demands placed on State Universities with Legal Entity (PTNBH) status. (Contributor)