UNU Jogja and KADIN DIY Sign MoU to Strengthen Higher Education–Industry Synergy for Regional Economic Growth

Yogyakarta, Indonesia – Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Yogyakarta (UNU Jogja) and the Yogyakarta Special Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN DIY) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on strengthening the implementation of the Three Pillars of Higher Education (Tridharma Perguruan Tinggi) and human resource development.

The MoU was signed by UNU Jogja Acting Rector Dr. H. Fahmy Akbar Idries, S.E., M.M., and KADIN DIY Chair GKR Mangkubumi on the sidelines of the KADIN DIY Regional Leadership Meeting (Rapimda) at The Alana Hotel & Convention Center Yogyakarta on Saturday (October 17, 2026).

The scope of the proposed partnership includes education, research, and community service, as well as student internship programs, workplace training, and competency development.

The two parties also see opportunities for collaboration to strengthen human resource capacity through training sessions, seminars, workshops, and other academic activities. Further cooperation may cover entrepreneurship, innovation, research commercialization, and the development of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and industry.

Held under the theme “People-Centered Economy for a Globally Competitive Indonesia: Upgrading MSMEs and Building a High-Quality DIY Economy,” the 2026 KADIN DIY Regional Leadership Meeting was officially opened by Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X.

In his remarks, Sri Sultan encouraged KADIN DIY to serve as a driving force for collaboration among businesses, financial institutions, and universities in support of regional economic development.

He emphasized that regional economic progress must go hand in hand with improved public welfare. “Growth only finds its meaning when opportunities for a better life reach people's homes,” he said.

KADIN DIY Chair GKR Mangkubumi likewise emphasized that the organization's efforts to foster collaboration with various stakeholders, including universities, aim to deliver tangible benefits to the community.

“Let us strengthen unity, set aside sectoral egos, and build productive collaboration. Let us demonstrate that Yogyakarta's local potential can become an economic force to be reckoned with at both the national and international levels,” she said.

The 2026 KADIN DIY Regional Leadership Meeting was attended by hundreds of KADIN DIY officials and representatives of the Yogyakarta Special Region Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda DIY), the Deputy Head of Bank Indonesia's Yogyakarta Representative Office, the Head of the Yogyakarta Special Region Financial Services Authority (OJK), and heads of departments within the regional government.

UNU Jogja Acting Rector Fahmy Akbar Idries welcomed the MoU as an initial step toward strengthening synergies between higher education and industry.

In his guidance to the university community, he called for the agreement to be followed up with concrete initiatives, noting the many opportunities for collaboration with KADIN DIY, particularly in strengthening the implementation of the Three Pillars of Higher Education and developing human resources.

“Through this collaboration, UNU Jogja can contribute as a higher education institution by conducting research and developing innovations, as well as commercializing research outcomes. These efforts can contribute to the business and industrial ecosystem while supporting regional economic development in Yogyakarta,” he said.

The MoU also formalizes an existing partnership between KADIN DIY and UNU Jogja, including their collaboration through the Decarbonomics Center, a research center at UNU Jogja that focuses on sustainability issues.

Decarbonomics Center Director Tri Susdinarjanti added that the MoU would provide an overarching framework for several collaborative initiatives currently being prepared by UNU Jogja and KADIN DIY.

These initiatives include efforts to promote decarbonization in Yogyakarta's tourism industry, student internships and capacity-building programs for lecturers serving as mentors, as well as collaboration to support the creative economy.

“All these initiatives will subsequently be set out in Memoranda of Agreement (MoAs), which will serve as implementation guidelines for both parties,” she concluded.*

Reporter : Arif