DENPASAR – China Indonesia education collaboration was further strengthened in Bali through the China-Southeast Asia Forum on Higher Education and Industry Cooperation 2026, held at the United In Diversity (UID) Bali Campus within the Kura Kura Bali Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
Opening with traditional Chinese lion dance and Balinese Barong performances, the forum brought together education, industry, and government representatives to explore new forms of cooperation amid rapid technological change and sustainable development challenges.
The forum was organized by the Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center (Tsinghua SEA) together with Tsinghua University, Indonesia’s National Economic Council (DEN), the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, and the Secretariat of the Organizing Committee of the China-ASEAN Education Cooperation Week.
Academics, industry leaders, and policymakers gathered to discuss the role of higher education in supporting industrial transformation, innovation, and economic development.
China Indonesia Education Collaboration Connects Universities and Industry
Higher education was presented not simply as a place of learning, but as part of a wider ecosystem connecting talent, knowledge, research, innovation, and industry needs.
Prof. Qiu Yong, Chairman of the Tsinghua University Council, said 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of Tsinghua University’s Global Strategy.
Introduced in 2016, the strategy aims to deepen global engagement and help build a more open, integrated, and resilient university.
Amid the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Qiu emphasized the increasingly important role of universities.
The Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center is expected to strengthen its role as a bridge connecting universities, governments, industries, and communities, enabling talent, knowledge, and innovation to move more effectively across China and Southeast Asia.
Tsinghua University’s official account describes the center as a platform for strengthening cooperation in talent development, science and technology innovation, and industrial development. Tsinghua University
UID Bali Campus Supports Innovation and Talent Development
United In Diversity President Tantowi Yahya said the gathering also marked a decade of Tsinghua University’s international cooperation strategy.
Existing collaborations include the Knowledge Innovation Technology Alliance (KITA), which integrates knowledge and AI for broader applications, as well as the Happy Digital X (HDX) program and initiatives supporting efficient and environmentally responsible digital infrastructure.
The broader UID Bali Campus and Tsinghua SEA ecosystem brings together academia, industry, government, and global partners to advance innovation, leadership, sustainability, digital transformation, and climate action. Kura Kura Bali
Luhut Calls for Stronger Knowledge-Based Economic Transformation
Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Chairman of Indonesia’s National Economic Council, emphasized the importance of connecting universities and industry to accelerate a knowledge-based economic transformation.
Discussions covered higher education, talent development, research, energy, and the application of science and technology.
Luhut also expressed interest in deeper cooperation with Tsinghua University in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, healthcare, and new energy. Tsinghua University
Collaboration among Tsinghua SEA, UID, and Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has also positioned UID Bali Campus as a Garuda Spark Innovation Hub, supporting young talent in AI and technology.
Technology, Green Energy and Tri Hita Karana
Bali is increasingly being positioned as a meeting point for innovation, technology, and climate action.
Cross-sector collaboration discussed at the forum ranged from biomedical engineering to green energy.
The partnerships also aim to accelerate the energy transition while promoting the use of AI and technology in ways that remain aligned with Tri Hita Karana, Bali’s philosophy of harmony among people, nature, and the spiritual realm.
This approach reflects Kura Kura Bali’s wider vision of bringing education, culture, innovation, and sustainable development together within an integrated ecosystem. Kura Kura Bali
Sustainable Development Center Unveiled in Bali
The forum also produced several concrete initiatives.
One was the unveiling of the Tsinghua-Envision Center of Sustainable Development (Indonesia) in collaboration with Envision Energy.
The center is intended to support sustainable development and the advancement of future low-carbon infrastructure and solutions.
Tsinghua University officially confirmed the unveiling of the center alongside the Zijing Lodge of the Tsinghua Southeast Asia Center during the forum. Tsinghua University
New Partnerships with Indonesian Universities
The forum also strengthened academic partnerships between Tsinghua University and Indonesian universities.
Tsinghua University’s official publication confirms cooperation agreements involving:
- Tsinghua University and Institut Teknologi Del (IT Del)
- Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School (Tsinghua SIGS) and Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS)
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute of Tsinghua University, Zhejiang and IPB University
The partnerships support academic exchange, research, talent development, and innovation connected to industry needs. Tsinghua University
Through the forum, China Indonesia education collaboration is expanding beyond academic exchange toward a wider ecosystem linking universities, government, industry, technology, and sustainable development.
Hosting the forum at UID Bali Campus within the Kura Kura Bali SEZ also reinforces Bali’s position as a strategic platform for global collaboration, innovation, and future talent development.
Source: Republika.co.id
