FPTI UPI and Technische Universität Dresden Strengthen Global Collaboration for Sustainable TVET and the SDGs

Dresden, 9 Desember 2025

The Faculty of Engineering and Industrial Education (FPTI) at Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia (UPI) has taken a significant step in expanding its global partnerships through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Technische Universität Dresden (TU Dresden), Germany. The MoA was formally signed on 9 December 2025 at the TU Dresden campus by Prof. Dr. Thomas Köhler, Managing Director of TUD FaCE, and witnessed by Prof. Dr. Ir. Dedi Rohendi, M.T., IPM., a senior academic from FPTI UPI currently undertaking an academic assignment in Dresden.

This collaboration supports UPI’s commitment to advancing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), by promoting international cooperation in sustainable vocational education, applied research, and capacity building. Dr. Eng. Agus Setiawan, M.Si., Dean of FPTI UPI, provided strong strategic direction and institutional support throughout the development and finalization of the MoA, ensuring alignment with FPTI’s internationalization roadmap.

The partnership was initiated through academic correspondence between Dr. Mustika Nuramalia Handayani, Vice Dean for Student Affairs and Partnerships at FPTI UPI, and Prof. Köhler of TU Dresden. This initial exchange progressed into formal discussions that culminated in a comprehensive MoA outlining joint academic priorities between the two institutions.

The signing coincided with Prof. Dedi Rohendi’s participation in the Promoter Strengthening Program (PKP) under Indonesia’s prestigious PMDSU Scholarship Scheme. The PKP program is designed to enhance cooperation between Indonesian doctoral supervisors and international host institutions through activities such as joint supervision, monitoring of doctoral research progress, alignment of publication plans, and collaborative academic networking. These activities are detailed in the Implementation Agreement between UPI’s School of Postgraduate Studies and the Faculty of Education at TU Dresden.

Parallel to this, TU Dresden is also hosting Muhammad Oka Ramadhan, an alumnus of FPTI UPI’s Agroindustrial Technology Education program, who is currently pursuing his Doctoral Program (by Research) at UPI under the PMDSU Scholarship. Oka is undertaking the International Publication Quality Improvement Program (PKPI) from November 2025 to March 2026, which includes research enhancement activities, expert validation, academic colloquia, and the preparation of manuscripts for international journal submission. The integration of both PKP and PKPI programs at TU Dresden further strengthens the academic ties and joint research momentum between the two institutions.

The MoA outlines several key areas of cooperation, including joint thesis supervision, student and staff mobility, collaborative research and publications, capacity-building programs, summer courses, scientific forums, and editorial collaboration for academic journals. These initiatives are expected to generate meaningful outcomes in advancing innovation, enhancing research productivity, and supporting a global ecosystem of sustainable TVET.

Through this partnership and the synergy of the PKP–PKPI programs, FPTI UPI reinforces its commitment to building impactful international collaborations, strengthening academic excellence, and contributing to the global advancement of sustainable vocational education. The partnership with TU Dresden is expected to catalyze new opportunities for innovation, joint research, and long-term academic cooperation that benefit both institutions and the broader TVET community.