Bandung, UPI
Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) continues to expand its network of strategic partnerships, including strengthening its long-standing collaboration with Pribadi Bilingual Boarding School Bandung. This partnership, which has been built over the years, is now being formalized and developed into a more structured and sustainable collaboration. The agreement was signed at the Meeting Room of the Partere Building, Jl. Dr. Setiabudhi No. 229, Bandung, on Thursday (January 29, 2026).
Prof. Dr. Agus Setiabudi, M. Si, Vice-Rector for Research, Community Service, and Partnerships at UPI, stated, “Both personally and institutionally, the relationship between UPI and Pribadi Bilingual Boarding School Bandung has been established since 2009, marked by the involvement of UPI students in teaching practicum activities as well as ongoing academic interactions between lecturers and the school. However, this existing collaboration is considered to have great potential to be further expanded and formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).”
Prof. Agus Setiabudhi explained that the process leading to the MoU began with discussions on various concrete and mutually beneficial collaboration opportunities. “Once clear and practical forms of cooperation have been identified, we then proceed to the MoU. Our policy requires prior discussions on concrete collaboration plans before any agreement is signed,” he said.
Furthermore, Prof. Agus explained that this collaboration will be translated into various concrete programs. One of them is the continuation of UPI students’ teaching practicum at Pribadi Bilingual Boarding School Bandung. In addition, UPI lecturers will have opportunities to develop teaching models and methods through research conducted directly in the school environment.
“These research activities are not only aimed at testing and validating learning models, but also involve school teachers as practitioners. Collaboration between academics and practitioners will certainly provide significant added value,” he added.
From the school’s perspective, the collaboration also opens access to UPI’s academic expertise, particularly in strengthening educational laboratories and curriculum development. This is expected to enhance the overall quality of teaching and learning while bringing tangible benefits to both institutions.
Arif Rahman Rhoma, General Manager of Pribadi Bilingual Boarding School Bandung, shared that the partnership has long been rooted in close cooperation, even before it was formally established. “Our connection has existed for a long time. Even before this formal agreement, UPI has already contributed greatly to both our students and the university students assigned here,” he explained.
He also highlighted the positive impact of UPI graduates particularly from teacher education programs on classroom quality, noting that many of their innovations have been directly felt within the school environment.
The signing of this MoU marks a new chapter in the partnership between UPI and the Pribadi Bandung Foundation. The foundation expressed its appreciation for the collaboration with UPI, recognizing its strong reputation and contribution to education in Indonesia. At the same time, the partnership helps address the school’s need for high-quality educators and supports continuous professional development.
Through this collaboration, both institutions are committed to developing programs that focus on improving teacher quality, strengthening pedagogical practices, and contributing to the advancement of education in Indonesia. “Insha Allah, this MoU will be the beginning of many meaningful collaborations that can further improve education in Indonesia,” he added.
Moving forward, this partnership is expected to benefit not only both institutions and their students, but also the wider community. With a shared spirit of collaboration, both parties are optimistic that this cooperation will create a lasting positive impact and contribute to better quality education.
Through the strengthening of this collaboration, UPI reaffirms its commitment to building strategic partnerships with various educational institutions, both at the national and international levels, in order to support the development of education, research, and community service. (Rija/DN)
Moreover, this initiative supports SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing teacher training, research, and curriculum development, as well as SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) through strong collaboration between universities and schools that bridges academic knowledge with real classroom practice.