Shenzhen, China, June 6th 2026 – Universitas Terbuka (UT) and the Indonesia Cyber Education (ICE) Institute participated in the Global Future Higher Education Summit: A New Ecosystem for AI-Driven Industry-Academia Collaborative Talent Development, held at the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China.
The international summit was jointly organized by the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia (UNESCO Beijing), UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE), Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), and the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI). The event brought together more than 200 leaders, experts, policymakers, university representatives, and industry partners from 32 countries and regions to discuss the future of higher education in the era of artificial intelligence (AI).
Representing Indonesia at the summit were Prof. Dr. Ali Muktiyanto, S.E., M.Si., Rector of Universitas Terbuka and Chairman of the ICE Institute Consortium, Dra. Rahayu Dwi Riyanti, M.A., Director of ICE Institute, and Prof. Dr. Paulina Pannen, M.Ls., Senior Expert of ICE Institute.
One of the highlights of the event was the Frontier Dialogue Session titled
"How to Achieve Alignment between Industrial Demand and Talent Supply,"
where Prof. Ali Muktiyanto served as a distinguished speaker alongside international leaders from industry and also academically.
During the session, Prof. Ali shared insights on the role of open and distance learning in bridging the gap between education and workforce demands. He emphasized the importance of flexible learning pathways, micro-credentials, lifelong learning opportunities, and strong collaboration between higher education institutions and industry stakeholders to ensure graduates possess relevant competencies for the digital and AI-driven economy. The discussion underscored the need for universities to move beyond traditional educational models and embrace innovative approaches that integrate practical industry experience, digital technologies, and critical thinking skills.
In addition to contributing to the dialogue, the Indonesian delegation actively engaged with global partners to explore future opportunities for collaboration in digital learning, micro-credential development, faculty capacity building, and AI-enhanced education initiatives. Their participation further reinforced Indonesia's growing role in shaping the future of higher education within the Global South and the broader international education community.
The summit also witnessed the launch of several international AI-focused micro-certification programs, the release of global research on AI-enabled higher education transformation, and the establishment of new regional cooperation mechanisms to support digital transformation across higher education institutions worldwide.
The participation of Universitas Terbuka and ICE Institute at this prestigious international forum reflects their continued commitment to advancing accessible, innovative, and future-oriented education. Through active engagement in global discussions and partnerships, UT and ICE Institute remain dedicated to supporting Indonesia's higher education transformation and contributing to the development of an inclusive, technology-enabled learning ecosystem for the future.